Bari and Nesta black smoke: Fabio Caserta advances for the red and white bench

BARI - The final choice seems finally close. Bari could cash in on the yes of its new coach today. Who, barring any sudden "upsets", will not be Alessandro Nesta, but Fabio Caserta. It is no mystery that the initial preferences of the Apulian management had fallen precisely on the 2006 world champion, fresh from the relegation from A to B suffered in Monza. The 49-year-old Roman coach, however, did not seem convinced from the first discussions of the Apulian proposal. If on the one hand, the Galletti bench represents a fascinating professional challenge, on the other hand, one must also consider the margin of risk in facing a highly disappointed team with the task of relaunching a project based in any case on an average budget for the category, without admitting exceptions to the rules. The coach who has already led Perugia, Frosinone and Reggiana will in any case communicate his choice to the sporting directors Giuseppe Magalini and Valerio Di Cesare within the next few hours: it is possible, at this point, that he opts for an adventure abroad.

It was obvious that in the meantime the Apulian club would have to immediately fill the gap. Thus, to the names already explored of Vincenzo Vivarini and Alberto Aquilani, that of Fabio Caserta was decisively added. A lightning evaluation, given that the Calabrian coach only three days ago terminated the contract with Catanzaro, which expired in June 2026. The Giallorossi club had proposed an adjustment to his salary, but without an extension for another season. However, it seems that the possible development of the Catanzaro project, intending to reduce part of the investments, was what sanctioned the divorce. Born in Melito di Porto Salvo, a former midfielder who wore (among others) the shirts of Catania, Palermo, Lecce, Atalanta and Cesena, Caserta ended his career with Juve Stabia in 2016 and then became first the assistant, then the coach of the Campania club with which he won promotion to Serie B in 2019, followed immediately by a return to Serie C. Then, another promotion to the cadet division with Perugia, the less than exciting adventures with Benevento and Cosenza (both ended with his dismissal) and the relaunch in Catanzaro with sixth place in the regular season, followed by reaching the semifinals of the playoffs, where he was eliminated by Spezia. In terms of formation, he has alternated various formations, going from a four-man defense to a three-man formation. Last season, he relied on a very compact 3-5-2, enhanced by the scoring streak of Pietro Iemmello. If no further hitches arise, the announcement could come as early as the weekend or, at most, at the beginning of the next one. However, Vivarini and Aquilani remain in the background: the doors are not completely closed to both of them in the event of any black smoke with Caserta.

FAREWELL TO LONGO AND POSSIBLE WELCOME TO BARDI Bari should define the separation from Moreno Longo very soon. So far there has been no contact between the club and the Turin coach, under contract for another season with an option to renew. The only viable options are to dismiss him or to resolve the contract, which could only happen in the event of a call from another club. This is a possibility that cannot be ruled out given that in the second division about a dozen teams have yet to define their manager for next season. The Piedmontese coach had previously ended up on Modena's radar (although he is close to Andrea Sottil, another coach being evaluated by Bari) and could now be of interest to Catanzaro. Finally, something is starting to move on the market. The red and white club is negotiating Francesco Bardi, 33, a free agent after his experience at Reggiana. An idea born after the talks with Nesta who coached him in the Emilian team, as well as at Frosinone. Despite the now probable renunciation of Nesta, the contacts for the Livorno goalkeeper continue: obviously, the approval of Caserta will also be needed, if he really is the definitive choice. It is difficult, however, to bring Boris Radunovic back to Puglia, who returned to Cagliari at the end of his loan and is tempted by prospects in Serie A or in a Serie B with clear objectives of promotion. Those that Bari has not shown for too long. Finally, the Croatian midfielder born in 1996, Karlo Lulić, will return to Bari: FK Sarajevo has decided not to redeem the player. [rs]