Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero assures fans he has secured a new coach and did consider Andrea Pirlo, but it’s widely believed to be Roberto D’Aversa.
The Blucerchiati were left looking for a new manager after Claudio Ranieri decided not to extend his contract.
They had talks with numerous different tacticians, and in the end it came down to a choice between Marco Giampaolo and former Parma boss D’Aversa.
“I do have a coach, I am not a kamikaze without a plan,” Ferrero told GR Parlamento radio.
“I am someone who likes to take risks, but I won’t announce it due to superstitious reasons. I will make the announcement on July 4. Then I will tell you who the long-awaited coach is, after you made a series of important names in the media.”
There were rumours that Samp had also approached sacked Juventus coach Pirlo and Ferrero did not deny it.
“I had thought about it, and I really would’ve liked that, but after Juventus I don’t think he’d have been in the right headspace to come to Sampdoria.
“After Ranieri, who picked up 52 points, I cannot make a mistake on the next boss. Many people say I try to save money, but that is not true. What I want is to find a person who knows how to make the most of my players. I cannot rebuild an entire squad for a coach, football has changed.”
Ferrero pointed out that the options are somewhat limited for a club like Sampdoria who start every season trying to avoid relegation.
“It’s another era now, wages are sky high, football is less heart and more finance now.”