Vito Manna: "We've raised the bar, now we want to be protagonists."

Real Forio is preparing for a new season with enthusiasm, ambition, and confidence. The summer transfer window has brought significant deals, key names, and a clear strategy: raise the bar without sacrificing its island identity. As the 2025/2026 season approaches, we met with sporting director Vito Manna to revisit the highlights of this intense phase of squad development. From retaining veterans to bringing in winning talent, and striking a balance between experience and freshness, Manna discusses his ideas, decisions, and ambitions with the candor of someone who knows exactly where he's coming from—and where he wants to go.

Real Forio's 2025/2026 season officially kicks off on August 1st with the "Tutta la Rosa" event. However, the transfer window has just concluded with a very intense phase. We spoke with sporting director Vito Manna. Tell us a little about the work done: what went on behind the scenes and what was the idea, the guiding thread, that guided the entire transfer campaign? "It was truly intense work. By July 21st, we had already completed the roster, so it was a particularly demanding month of work, which, in my opinion, also helped us grow in terms of team vision. President Amato, in discussions with other members of the club, immediately expressed his desire to continue raising the bar. After last year's impressive third-place finish, which represents the club's highest ever finish, a further leap in quality was needed. To do so, we needed to bring in players with a winning mentality, capable of raising the status of the entire group. We've worked in this direction, but also on another front: retaining those players who, in our opinion, can still make a significant contribution to this project. All this while also considering generational change, which has become necessary in some areas of the field.

Director, there have been some transfer moves—that's what we have to call them, considering the names involved—that haven't gone unnoticed. Staying on the island, let's talk about Pippo Florio and Peppe Mattera. "Another idea we wanted to implement, and which had already emerged in the very first meetings, even with great clarity, is to strengthen the island identity of our group. I'm going back to the previous question, because the guiding principle is the same: raise the level of the squad, yes, but do it with players from Ischia, not simply with promising local youngsters. This opportunity presented itself, and we seized it immediately, working in synergy with the coach and knowing that the journey would be long, but not impossible.

The club has grown significantly over the past two years, not only organizationally but also in terms of its standing among the island's footballers. Today, we can count on a certain specific weight in the local football scene, as demonstrated by the enthusiasm with which these players have approached our project. Florio and Mattera are two people who need no introduction: they have important careers behind them, are accustomed to playing decisive matches and winning championships. This is exactly what we were looking for to further raise the bar. Improving on what we achieved last year is by no means easy, but we decided to try with ambition and concreteness.

Speaking of other transfer news, I'll mention just two—without taking anything away from the others—but to try to provide a point of reference, even an emotional one, regarding the movements involving Real Forio. I'm referring to Tarascio and Yeboah, two names of absolute weight in the Campania Eccellenza league, who have inevitably stirred the market mood. Then, of course, we'll also focus on a few other profiles. "Yeboah is a player we've been following for at least two years. We met him in the Coppa Italia semifinal, and he immediately impressed us. That season, he was among the top scorers, and the following year, he was one of the league's driving forces in Group B, which he won as a key player. He has confirmed his value in the last two years as well, winning the Eccellenza title again.

He already knows Coach Sanchez, and this year a series of circumstances aligned that favored his arrival. He's an attacking, versatile player, capable of playing various roles and offering the coach numerous options. He still has a strong desire to win and be a key player: we immediately found ourselves in agreement on objectives and ambitions, and this made everything easier. As for Tarascio, it was an opportunity that arose thanks to some conversations with Campania football insiders. When we realized there was room for improvement, we immediately launched. The negotiations were fairly quick, also because the player showed great availability. Not everyone knows that Yeboah is a player who, while not always enjoying the spotlight he deserves, has won a lot. He's a player who raises the level of intensity and competitiveness of the group. We're talking about one of the best players in his position in Campania: his presence completes a unit that we already considered solid, but takes it to an even higher level.

After discussing the defense—where the already established Velotti and Di Costanzo are joined by the likes of Mattera and Florio—and analyzing the new additions in midfield, let's now look at the attack. Alongside Luigi Castagna, a young man from Monterone who has already demonstrated grit, heart, and a strong commitment to the team, comes another very interesting prospect: Santiago De Sagastizabal, who brings experience and mileage. How did this attacking duo come together? Was there a specific focus on leveraging Castagna's strengths while also providing him with a complementary partner? "Luigi Castagna was, effectively, our first signing. He was a crucial step in building our attacking platform. After him, we worked to retain Serrano, another key player, but we knew we needed a fourth striker with different characteristics, capable of completing the defense. We evaluated several profiles, some of which were close to signing, but after discussing with Coach Sanchez, we realized we needed a specific figure: a physically strong, ball-handling striker, present and aggressive in front of goal. Santiago De Sagastizabal fits this profile perfectly.

He's a complementary profile to Castagna, who loves to come forward, link the play, communicate with the midfield, and bring the team forward. Santiago, on the other hand, attacks the penalty area with ferocity and lives for goals. He allows us to have a complete attacking lineup, with four strikers with different characteristics, allowing us to vary formations and strategies depending on the match. We're talking, among other things, about a striker who was picked up last year by Barletta, a club that went on to win the Apulian championship. He contributed decisively to that success, scoring crucial goals and demonstrating a great hunger. It wasn't easy to bring him here: we're talking about a player with a lot of demand, even from Serie D, and followed by a very active entourage in Southern Italy.

In the end, however, he chose our project. He understood the seriousness and ambition of this club, which now aims to establish itself firmly among the top clubs in Campania. This is also thanks to the work done last year, on the one hand by the coach, and on the other by a club that has become increasingly structured. We are convinced that Santiago will bring us great satisfaction.

Let's talk about the arrival of a 2007-born player: Carofilo. It's an intriguing choice, considering that Real Forio has so far focused heavily on developing the local youth system. How did this decision come about? "We're talking about a top-notch youngster who we believe can make a concrete contribution. In that role, we needed to find a credible alternative to the players already in the squad. The boy comes from Napoli's youth system, a path that guarantees quality and a high-level development. He's also developed in other top-notch youth teams, so he immediately seemed like a suitable candidate to complete the team, complementing the other young players already present, particularly those from the island.

The choice also stems from a strategic need: we've built the team so that the coach can freely choose where and when to deploy the young players, without being tied to a specific role. With this addition, we're offering him a new option, useful for better addressing different match situations. We want to guarantee the coach maximum flexibility, and this move is part of that effort."

In conclusion, despite your—let's call them—moderate communication choices, it's impossible not to wonder what Real Forio's ambitions are given the transfer market conducted and, above all, the financial commitment it has required. "The club has certainly decided to invest a little more than last year. We don't intend to hide, but I also believe that, for now, it's right to maintain the right profile and stay focused on ourselves. If, for example, Ercolanese were to finish in Group A, they would be a very strong candidate for the championship. Then there's Gladiator, who have already started their training camp and have retained a large portion of their squad, most of which comes from Serie D. From what we know, they've even spent more than us.

That said, our goal is clear: to focus on our own home turf, consolidate the good work we did last year, and try to improve upon it. We want to start strong, stay in the top spots right away, and apply pressure. If we were protagonists last year, we want to be even more so this year. I won't add anything else because, as I've said in the past, sometimes making claims brings bad luck. But one thing is certain: we want to start with determination, with competitive spirit, and with the right hunger to prove we can hold our own this season as well. Then, as always, the pitch will do the talking.

We're confident, though: we believe we've assembled a team that knows how to entertain. Our most important goal, this year too, is to continue filling the Salvatore Calise Stadium, bringing excitement to our fans. If we succeed in this, it will mean we're doing something great. And for me, that remains the most important thing in football."

Vito Manna's clear words describe a project built with method, vision, and a sense of belonging. Real Forio isn't promising revolutions, but it aims to consolidate its growth with a strong identity, a solid team, and a hunger for results that starts in the locker room and extends to the stands. Now, however, the spotlight shifts to the pitch. Because it is there, between the lines of the pitch and the warmth of Salvatore Calise, that the solidity of the ideas and the value of the work done are truly measured. And Real Forio, this year more than ever, wants to be ready.