Torino, Petrachi outlines market strategies: "There is a deep malaise"

Torino’s sporting director Gianluca Petrachi in an interview with Sky described the difficult atmosphere at the Piedmontese club: “Definitely a depressed environment, not healthy, very defeatist from a certain point of view. So very complicated. Even in 2010 I arrived at a very difficult time but the contestation was the result of sports results that were not coming. Today there is a deeper malaise that honestly is difficult to live with.”

“I’m trying to instill that Toro tremendism, that idea of a sense of belonging. Those are things that made me appreciate and love this place, especially when I lost it. From the first of the warehousemen to the last of the players, I’m trying to get that across, because it becomes crucial at such a difficult time when we don’t totally have the support of the people, the fans, the Marathon. I would really like the players to be able to understand what the Granata passion is.”

Petrachi confessed his intention to create an Italian block, as he had done in the past in his first period at Toro: “I tried to create first of all an Italian block, with the Darmian, Vives, Moretti, Bovo, Gazzi, Sirigu: we always had 6-7 elevenths of starters who were Italian. It is true that I like South America, it is an open, wide market, but the idea of creating a group of Italians is something I would like to do. In January, for example, I got Prati, a guy with prospects. I would like to recreate that group of guys who can then give structure and solidity for the future. And then, from there, add some foreigners.”

Petrachi spoke about the operations that took him most proud: “For example, having taken Bremer when no one believed in it. However, I like to remember the 300,000 euros spent on Vives: he was a player who gave so much to Torino. I like to remember players who were functional and embodied the spirit of Toro, because the team is built with people who have values. The important thing is not to get the man wrong: that’s where you create assumptions.”