Manolo Gabbiadini has become the latest Serie A player to reinforce the ever-growing contingent of European stars in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pro League heavyweights Al-Nassr have announced the acquisition of the former Sampdoria striker.
Gabbiadini returned to Serie A in 2019 after a two-year stint at Southampton. Over the past four years, he was one of the best players at Sampdoria. However, La Samp relinquished their top-flight status last season, signaling the 31-year-old it’s time to leave.
The left-footed forward will join former Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic at Al-Nassr. He has put pen to paper on a three-year contract worth €3 million per year. Although Sampdoria won’t cash in on Gabbiadini’s exit, his departure will still boost their finances.
Indeed, the former Serie A tenants will save around €8m gross on his salary after agreeing to terminate his contract. Gabbiadini leaves Luigi Ferraris as one of Sampdoria’s best players in the past decade.
During his four-and-a-half-year stint in Genoa, Gabbiadini made 127 appearances, netting 33 goals and providing 13 assists. Except for the abovementioned venture into the Premier League, he spent most of his time in Europe in Serie A.
Before Sampdoria, the Italian forward wore the shirts of Atalanta, Juventus, Bologna, and Napoli. But the glitter of the petrodollars has blindsided Gabbiadini, making him leave his homeland for the second time.
He won’t be alone in Saudi Arabia. In addition to Brozovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly are other former Serie A stars to have taken this path this summer.
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |