Bari, De Laurentiis tries to reopen the "game"

BARI - It will be an uphill restart, amid doubts, skepticism and an increasingly distant team. Bari is licking the wounds of another disappointing season and is trying to get into the folds of the 2025-26 tournament schedule. Yesterday, the first stone was laid, with lunch in the city between president Luigi De Laurentiis together with sports director Giuseppe Magalini and his "vice" Valerio Di Cesare. They will be the ones to form the basis of a program that will once again have to be reset from the roots.

"I promised the playoffs and we didn't get there", the top manager's quick assessment. "We were in the promotion playoffs for the entire championship and we left because of a final that wasn't up to par. I'm very sorry, but that's why we immediately got back to work with enthusiasm and a desire to redeem ourselves. The management? We're here together, so we're starting again like this. Longo? We're facing an important meeting to verify all the components, we'll see".

The sole administrator of the red and whites has reflected for a long time: the disastrous effects of the failed promotion to Serie A in 2023 have given birth to a very painful tournament grabbed in extremis with salvation in the playouts, then an almost anonymous championship that has never taken off. The evaluation of resetting the management team after a complete failure was among the concrete options until a few days ago: the idea of ​​relying on a more empathetic manager on the territory (Guido Angelozzi first and Francesco Palmieri second were the profiles that intrigued the most) was set aside because the reason to take the path of continuity prevailed, also and above all by virtue of the contractual constraints in place. But it is all too easy to understand that Magalini's work has not reached sufficient standards. The Mantua manager, often far from the dynamics of a passionate club like the red and white one, will be asked for a more concrete participation in the Bari environment, as well as a decisive imprint on a market that will have to follow clear and coherent strategies, avoiding gross errors like those developed during the 2024-2025 season. It will inevitably be a decisive year for Di Cesare too: the former captain will have to grow in his managerial career, taking on greater responsibilities, without losing impact and presence on the team. The trust granted, in short, will include a higher threshold of responsibility: there is a city to reconquer that is very far away and in fierce protest against the De Laurentiis.

A thorny issue with outcomes yet to be written. There is no point in beating around the bush: Moreno Longo has very little chance of remaining on the Apulian bench, despite a contract expiring in June 2026 (with an option to renew to 2027) with one of the most considerable salaries in the category. The owners absolutely do not consider him the main culprit for the outcome of the tournament and would also consider confirming him. Which, however, in addition to being unpopular, seems highly unlikely precisely because of visions that do not always coincide with the sports management, which have been made explicit several times in front of the press: starting again with any grey areas is to be excluded. The line, in this sense, is drawn: Magalini and Di Cesare will have to contact the Piedmontese coach in the next few hours and discuss a wide range of issues.

If a (difficult) identity of views were to emerge from the summit, then the current picture could even be overturned. If, instead, the divorce line prevails, then it will be essential to at least seek the margins for a resolution of the bond. As for the possible successor, the casting will be narrowed down with well-defined characteristics: a strong personality to face a boiling context, iron discipline, a precise technical-tactical identity, but without falling into fundamentalism. Roberto D'Aversa is undoubtedly a big name: the coach from Stuttgart has always had a strong bond with Puglia (he wore the shirts of Casarano and Gallipoli, last year he led Lecce, but did not finish the season), with Di Cesare he achieved the double leap from C to A in Parma and has now been sacked by Empoli (with the Tuscan club he still has a contract until 2026): his salary (in the last five years D'Aversa has always coached in Serie A) could represent an obstacle, but there is room for dialogue. Another option is Vincenzo Vivarini: with Magalini he won promotion to Serie B in Catanzaro, followed by qualification for the playoffs for Serie A. The Pescara coach is coming off a disappointing season in Frosinone, but he is also liked by president De Laurentiis who still can't forgive himself for his failure to confirm him in red and white in 2020, after a useful series of 27 results closed only in the playoff final for Serie B with Reggiana.

Among the most experienced, finally, there would be an option that is currently impractical, to follow: that is, Luca D'Angelo. Everything will depend on the return playoff final: if Spezia (for whom a draw is enough) goes up to Serie A, then an assault would become impossible. But otherwise, if a separation from the Ligurians were to ever appear (with whom he is still tied until 2027), it could become an opportunity. It is obvious that for people like D'angelo or D'Aversa, it will be necessary to build a team capable of experiencing the new season among the very first. It is obvious that, if Bari wanted to close the circle quickly, they will not wait for the evolution of a situation with potentially long times. Finally, among the youngsters, two are the "possible candidates": Massimo Donati (already sounded out a year ago) who knows perfectly a team where he played for five years (from 2009 to 2012, then from 2014 to 2016) as a footballer, as well as Alberto Aquilani.

Dialogues to involve potential investors are unlikely to evolve any time soon. At present, Bari could broadly confirm the budget invested in the three seasons of B (with a management that stands at ten million overall). However, it could radically change the strategy: the intention, in fact, is to focus more convincingly on young and emerging players (many profiles viewed in C), rejuvenating the squad and trying to increase the ownership figures. Certainly the incoming movements will have to be significant in number. Finally, it will also be necessary to understand the fate of many commercial partnerships: the companies that have been alongside Bari met on Thursday for the "Sponsor Cup" in a relaxed and collaborative atmosphere, but there is no shortage of those who are reflecting on whether or not to confirm their commitment. Starting with the main sponsor Casillo who, at the moment, appears distant from the red and white reality: the leading company in Puglia could leave the mission or substantially review its contribution. A negotiation is already underway with Acqua Amata who could, instead, increase its visibility on the next uniforms. Which concern another "sensitive" topic: "Errea" is the current technical partner, but there would also be a strong rapprochement with Kappa. Everything in progress, in short. After the failure of the season just behind us, we are trying to start again. Hoping not to make any more mistakes.