June 17, (THEWILL)- In a bewildering turn of circumstances, Gennaro Gattuso, Victor Osimhen’s previous coach, who was fired by Napoli after they failed to maintain a UEFA Champions League place in Serie A but was appointed as Fiorentina’s new head coach only 23 days ago, has mutually agreed to leave Fiorentina.
The musical chairs of the coaching head that Fiorentina has had began when former manager Cesare Prandelli resigned in March. Guiseppe Iachini was appointed until the end of the season and the availability of Gattuso allowed them to sign him to lead the team into next season.
However, a club statement has now made clear that that will not happen: “ACF Fiorentina and Mister Rino Gattuso, by mutual agreement, have decided not to follow up on the previous agreements and therefore not to start the next football season together.
“The Company immediately set to work to identify a technical choice that will guide the Viola team towards the results that Fiorentina and the City of Florence deserve.”
Behind the scenes, there has been a conflict brewing because not long after Gattuso came onboard, it was obvious that there was a difference of opinion on transfer strategy between the new manager and the Fiorentina’s executive team.
Dissension involved the club’s reluctance to sign another of Gattuso’s clients, Porto midfielder, Sergio Oliveira, as well as consider other names in Mendes’ portfolio, Jesus Corona and Goncalo Guedes as summer recruits meant to shore up the team’s shortfalls.
This all resulted in the decision to part ways and only 23 days after announcing Gattuso’s agreement, Fiorentina are in the market, looking for a fifth coach in two years under US owner Rocco Commisso.
THEWILL recalls that there was also shock in March when Prandelli resigned after admitting a “dark cloud” had developed inside him and he was experiencing a period of “profound distress”.
Gattuso it was who brought Osimhen to Napoli and stood by him through the trial period of his struggles and absences due to injuries, suspensions, coronavirus isolation, among others.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
