A new libero for l'Allianz Milan

Seventh at the halfway mark and a SuperLega start with many injuries for Allianz Milano, but for the meneghini a nice gift has arrived under the Christmas tree. The standings for now are split in two with seven sisters likely to play for the two titles at stake. Three teams in the lead (Trento, Verona and Perugia), a group currently in second place that has reaped a little less than what it sowed (Piacenza, Modena, Civitanova and Milan). Allianz has on paper a chance to start with the boost in this round of return thanks to two challenges with as many teams following it in the rankings: on Sunday 21 Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina, currently last with 2 points – beaten at home 3-0 on November 9 in the sixth round (remember that in this edition the SuperLega has an “asymmetrical” championship between the first leg and the second leg) – and on Boxing Day at the Allianz Cloud the Sonepar Padova, defeated in Veneto on November 16 3-2.

The first verdict will be rendered in a fortnight, however, with the quarterfinals of the Del Monte Coppa Italia on Dec. 29 and 30. Allianz will play it all in Verona on Tuesday 30 at 7 p.m. against the second-ranked Rana. So far, Coach Roberto Piazza’s team has only managed to beat Modena among the teams ahead of it in the standings. However, it played on par for large parts of the matches against Civitanova, Piacenza and Verona, a little less so against Trento and got crushed by Perugia, in the least convincing performance so far in the Milanese league. Against teams from first to sixth place it has collected only 3 points, and this is what coach Piazza himself is working on every day in the gym. That is, finding that continuity in the break phase: play and replay, defense, wall, attack, recovery, new attack … the trademark of Milan, but Allianz has not yet managed to show it consistently.

Of course, there is no shortage of alibis: unlike almost all the other top teams, Allianz Milan has had a path so far with many obstacles and an infirmary always full of at least one top player. To the stop of Seppe Rotty in preseason, who underwent shoulder surgery and will return for differentiated work only in 2026, was added the problem to director Fernando Kreling, out in the first four games, the problem to center Nemanja Masulovic, who returned to full strength in December, the problem to setter Leonardo Barbanti, out a month after a ball on the eye, and also the slight injury to Tatsunori Otsuka, suffered, however, just before the challenge at the Forum against Trento.

The general and sporting director, Fabio Lini, is obviously working day and night to ensure a top round for the team, fans and sponsors. The first movements concern the market, with a possible surprise coming right under the Christmas tree. The departure of Matteo Staforini for Verona, where he will fill the libero box momentarily vacated by Francesco D’Amico, was immediately followed by the arrival of another young hopeful, 18-year-old Jacopo Corbetta coming from the Serie B Allianz Diavoli Rosa Brugherio. The Lecco-born Corbetta grew up in Pallavolo Cisano, before becoming a “devil,” and already boasts several titles at the youth level, starting with the victory in the Trofeo delle Regioni with the jersey of Lombardy. Summoned for the “Enlarged Club Italia,” he has made a steady path of growth. He will also continue to wear the Allianz Diavoli Powervolley jersey at the youth level. “We have the good fortune that few other clubs have in Italy to be able to work with the cantera of excellence of Allianz Diavoli Rosa – comments general manager Fabio Lini – we have been following Jacopo for some time and coach Piazza liked him from the first training session. I trust that he can accomplish, thanks to this experience, the same step that other of our very young players have done. With Matteo Staforini, to whom we wish all the best, the Allianz Diavoli school of frees, managed by Danilo Durand over the years has produced blue talents of the caliber of Alessandro Piccinelli, Nicolò Hoffer and Andrea Marini, I hope that Jacopo Corbetta can also reach these levels One of our missions is precisely to bring to national and international prominence these talents at zero kilometer, who share our values on work in the gym, commitment at school and in life.”

Corbetta is already at work with the team: he is a “pure” libero, unlike Staforini, who had practically never worn the orange jersey this season, while still carving out spaces at bat and in the second line, thanks to the absence of a fourth setter on the roster until the return of Belgian national player Rotty. But precisely on the slappers front, tasty novelties are not excluded at Allianz Milano. Mouths sealed at the moment on the name by both president Lucio Fusaro and director Fabio Lini: the only clue given is that it will be an “exotic” arrival, not zero kilometer in short, already quite famous and young. A necessary reinforcement also to keep the level very high in the six-on-six in training.
“It is well known that since the beginning of the championship there are some teams very present in the market of the place four, above all Trento, after Lavia’s injury and us, of course. In the DNA that distinguishes us, we immediately moved at the international level, looking not only for a player, but also for a talent that can definitely blossom in Italy. We are very close to the announcement. We know very well that without Rotty the team needed help, an adequate reinforcement. It is really a matter of a few days and President Lucio Fusaro will bring to Allianz Milano a Christmas star, a gift under the tree of our fans,” concludes director Fabio Lini.