09-10: Serie B
Following Torino FC's questionable autumn run in the Serie B,the Torino board decided to sack acting manager Stefano Colantuono and replace him with 43 year-old former Italy captain Francisco Contaglia.At the time of Colantuono's replacement Torino occupied only 4th place with a huge 15 point gap to the first placed,Reggina,even though they were firm favourites for capturing the Serie B title.
Contaglia managed to get the team to second place within 3 games and in the winter transfer window signed Gambian defensive midfielder Sefo Soley who had a great first season.With the addition of Soley,Contaglia managed to remain second placed throughout the season but an unexpected defeat to Salernitana (3rd placed at the time) lost the runner-up position.Nevertheless,Torino FC went on to conquer 3rd place in the 09-10 eddition of Serie B and qualified for the playoffs.The first opponent in the play-offs was Brescia.In the first leg Torino drew 2-2 away and won 2-1 home.In the finals the played 4th placed Mantova.They won away 2-1 but only drew 2-2 at home so Torino FC were promoted back to Serie A in their first second-league season and Contaglia was praised as the mastermind behind the promotion.
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Summer transfer window
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-The Torino board and fans alike are delighted to be back in the top division but everybody knows Torino FC has to strengthen their squad heavily if they want to survive with dignity in the intense Serie A.They had serious problems with defense in the previous season and defensive replacements are expected.Contaglia made a confindent statement,believing Torino can make it to mid-table in their return season to Serie A,the board agreed and set the transfer
and wage budget accordingly:35 mil euros for transfers,550.000 for the weekly wage.
-Torino FC's manager is rumored to be intrested in a lot of high profile defenders and midfielders including Adil Rami from Lille Metropole,Andre Bikey from Burnley,Mathias Jorgensen from FC Kobenhavn,Arouca from Sao Paulo,Georginio Wijnaldium from Feyernoord and Alderwiereld from Ajax.After multiple negotiations with clubs Lille,Kobenhavn,Burnley and Ajax Contaglia decided to stick with the cheapest option for the much needed central defender and signed 20 year-old danish player Mathias Jorgensen from Kobenhavn for 6 mil. euros.Jorgensen is one of the most promising players in the Denmark squad,having made only 6 international appearances but all six of them formidable.He's expected to be a starter in the Torino defense this season and is the best defender at the squad at the time.
-Torino FC managed to sign 30 y.o. defender Diego Gavilan for free after his contract expired with Indepiendente.Gavilan made an impressive 50 appearences for his country,Paraguay and played for 10 years in his career this far,including impressive teams Newcastle,Udinese,Newell's,Gremio or Flamengo.Gavilan is expected to act as right full-back in the Torino squad and Torino must be sattisfied to get a player of his callibre for free.
-25 year old defender Paolo Hernan Dellafiore returned from his loan at Parma,having been ever-present in the serie A for Parma.Dellafiore is said to be delighted to be back at now Serie A team Torino FC and declared he wants to help his team get a respactable league postition.
-Contaglia announced two more singings for Torro,two important signings both comming for the hefty fee of 10 mil euros.The first one is Arouca,the 23 year old brazilian midfielder who made 41 youth appearances for Brazil and had a fantastic season with Sao Paulo.Arouca is eager to test himself on a greater stage and expressed determination to take Torion forward.The other signing is duth youngster Georgio Wijnaldum,one of the most promising players in the Holland youth squad.Wijnaldum can play any position in the attacking midfielder line from right to left and is certainty as Gasbaronni's new collegue on the flanks.Wijnaldum is only 19 years old but he already scored 4 goals in 6 games for the Holland U-21 team and is expected to be a great signigh for the "Torro"s.
-Another young player joins up with the Torino Squad as former FC Midtjylland and CSKA striker,20 year old Sekou Oliseh accepted Torino's contract offer and completed the 2 mill swap to Italy.Oliseh was on loan at CSKA Moscow last season where he scored 9 goals and made 2 assists.The Nigerian striker is eager to play in the Serie A at such a young age and is only one year older then youngest goalscorer Marion Balotelli.
-Torino FC today completed the loan of two players from Italy,striker Samuel Di Camine from Fiorentina and defender Digao from AC Milan.Both have pre-defined transfer clauses around 3 mill so if they play well,they might join Torino permanently.Torino also bought the other half of share for their previously co-owned players Angelo Ogbonna,Saumel Jurgen,Lys Gomis,Arma Rachid,Massimo Loviso and Rubin Matteo.Contaglia has also announced with these deals he wrapps up the summer transfer window for Torino FC.Contaglia completed the transfer of 5 players this season for a total of 28 million euros,bought 50% shares of players for 5 million and loaned 2 players.He sold noone,instead he realeased a total of 14 ex-Torino reserves and unwanted youth players.Torino FC are paying for staff and players a total amount of 501,000 euros per week.
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