Allianz Milan, Lucio Fusaro pampers new signings
Fiorenzo Galbiati
Allianz Milano president Lucio Fusaro, at the end of a buying campaign followed step by step together with general manager Fabio Lini, draws a positive balance and looks forward with enthusiasm to the new SuperLega season now just around the corner. It will be the twelfth top championship for the Milanese club.
“I am very satisfied with the choices made in the summer,” explains Fusaro, “because we have built an energetic, fresh and competitive roster, with a mix of experienced players of international level and many young prospects. Our goal is to grow further and also confirm ourselves in the European arena”.
Completing the mosaic is the latest addition, Serbian center Nemanja Mašulović, fresh from his experience with Olympiacos and the Serbian national team. “With him,” Fusaro continued, “we will have a central department among the best in the league and therefore in the world: Edoardo Caneschi, Gabriele Di Martino, Mašulović and young Benacchio form a quartet of the highest level”.
Last week in Cannes, on the occasion of the pre-world friendly match between France and Serbia, Fusaro and Lini had the opportunity to take a close look at the very new acquisition and also meet with French federvolley president Eric Tanguy to talk about the future of our sport at the international level.
Allianz Milano with a top player of the caliber of Brazilian Cachopa, the return to Italy of Checco Recine and a group of youngsters ready to emerge, wants to consolidate itself among the biggest in Italian volleyball. The goal is to raise the bar again under the guidance of a great coach like Roberto Piazza, improving on the results of the last five already elite seasons. The second Challenge Cup to be put in our trophy cabinet will be the first goal, but the desire is to compete all the way on all fronts.
“We have enthusiasm and ambition,” says Fusaro, “and I am sure that staff, players and fans together will be able to write another beautiful page in our history”. The Milanese roster already at work since Monday includes: the two libero Catania and Staforini, the setters Recine, Ichino and Argano, the setter Barbanti and the powerhouses Caneschi, Di Martino and Benacchio. On the other hand, Reggers and Rotty with Belgium, Lindqvist with Finland, Kreling with Brazil and Otsuka with Japan are engaged with their respective national teams in the last days of World Cup preparation.
The president closes with a thought to those who are very close to his club: “Let me wish Maurizio Devescovi, general manager of Allianz, our main sponsor, a very happy birthday. With Allianz we have started an important partnership that will continue in the coming years”.
