Bergossi pushes Bari up: «It's a duty to be with the top teams»

BARI - Alberto Bergossi, born in 1959, is a well-known figure to the Bari public for having worn the red and white shirt in the 1980s, contributing to the promotion to Serie A in the 1984-85 season and leaving an indelible memory with the famous goal in the derby against Lecce.

After hanging up his boots, he successfully embarked on a career as a sports agent, making the most of his experience in the field and his legal training as a lawyer. Today he is a point of reference in the panorama of the Italian football market, with a consolidated network of contacts and a clear vision of the dynamics that govern the world of professional football. The spearhead of Tmp Soccer, a sports consultancy company based in Brescia and completed by football agents Manuel Montipò, the former Bari player Fausto Pari and Tullio Tinti, his dual perspective - as a former footballer and as an agent - makes him an authoritative voice to analyse the market strategies and prospects of Bari. Galletti called upon to rebuild a competitive squad after a disappointing season and with the declared objective of president De Laurentiis to at least reach the playoffs. With the arrival of Fabio Caserta on the bench and the confirmation of the Magalini-Di Cesare duo at the helm of the technical area, the club is preparing for a summer of profound renewal.

Bergossi, the summer transfer market officially opens today.

"We've already had some chatter in the past few days. Now things are starting to get concrete. Such a long transfer market makes you do things more calmly. I think it's a load of rubbish to wait until September 1st to bring down the curtain. Closing in early August would be more than enough. The pre-season retreats are also affected because the players aren't focused, thinking they can move at any moment. I had a word with Magalini. Bari isn't an easy place to place players. Behind them, there's the shadow of Napoli. To conclude the operations, some steps are needed. They have a precise policy. Filtered evaluations are made first."

Bergossi, as an agent and expert of the Bari environment, how do you judge the current situation of Bari in view of the summer market?

"First of all, I'm sorry for the collision course between the club and the fans. One of the strong points of the club has always been playing in front of home fans. Desertion is a bad thing, but I don't think it can influence the choice of new players. People always come to Bari very willingly. There's also a beautiful stadium. In the last two years, the enthusiasm has died down. It wouldn't take much to bring it back. Some quality players need to be signed. There's no doubt about that. Otherwise, you risk playing another anonymous season and you can't afford that."

President De Laurentiis clearly spoke of the “playoff objective”. Do you think it is realistic, considering the need to almost completely rebuild the team?

"I don't know. I don't know what expectations he has. Teams are built over time. Results don't come out of nowhere or by changing a dozen players."

Many key players were on loan and will not be reappointed. How much can this discontinuity affect the construction of a competitive group?

"A lot. Victories are planned by sowing resources and fruits to be harvested in the future in advance. When you change too much, the uncertainties about profits increase. Especially in the immediate future."

You know Nicholas Bonfanti well. Do you think Bari should try to bring him back to Puglia?

"From what I know, Bari tried to keep him. If he stayed in Puglia and scored double figures, it would be an interesting discussion for him. If I were Magalini, I would try to bring him back to the red and white. He is young and has prospects. He has the right attitude. Caserta could be the right coach for him, having attention to certain things and a sensitivity for the valorization of young people."

The Magalini-Di Cesare duo is called to a complex job. Which profiles do you expect to arrive to immediately give solidity to the team?

"I think a lot of players will have changed. Some from last year have not performed as expected. In fact, they have really disappointed. Others are on loan and will return to basics. The type of right players corresponds to profiles of depth and personality. At least one for each department. A good goalkeeper. Then, a strong central defender, who knows how to command the defense. In each area of ​​the field, the backbone of the team will need to be carefully composed. We need to understand who will be decided to confirm in midfield."

Fabio Caserta is an experienced Serie B coach. What kind of football can we expect from him and how much of an influence can he have on the choice of new signings?

"Naples leaves freedom of choice. The purchase of players will have to fit within certain budget parameters established at the beginning of the year. The coach and the sports director have room for manoeuvre and will be able to direct the choices".

Do you think Caserta is the right man to lead a rebuilding team towards the playoffs?

"Bari has chosen a coach with great motivation and clear ideas. I don't know him personally, but he has always given me the impression of being a coach with character and temperament. To do well, Caserta will have to have the material that can reflect its idea of ​​football."

The next Serie B championship promises to be very competitive. Which teams do you see as favorites and where can Bari be placed?

"Saying that Bari can finish first would not be realistic. The number one favorite is Palermo, with someone like Inzaghi on the bench who has already shown he is up to the task. Working alongside him is a very good sports director like Carlo Osti. An experienced and intelligent professional. Then, there are the usual teams, in addition to the inevitable surprises like Juve Stabia from the last tournament. I don't think Sampdoria can have a top championship, because at a corporate level I still don't see much clarity. Bari? The minimum objective must be to reach the playoffs for at least a decent championship. If we manage to create an amalgamation between Caserta and the locker room, something important could come out of it. Anyone can win Serie B, but it's just as easy to be sucked down. For sure, the expectations of the red and whites must be high. That is, to finish among the first."

Finally, as a former striker, in your opinion, what kind of centre forward would Bari need to make the difference in a long and difficult tournament like Serie B?

"In Catanzaro, Caserta did well also thanks to a certain Iemmello. In A, B and C, the striker is always the most sought-after role. The strikers who score goals, the teams hold on to them. We must then understand the costs and the willingness of the clubs to let their finishers go, especially the prolific ones. The striker must be a priority in the market choices. Alternatively, you can compensate by signing a couple of offensive midfielders with a nose for goal".