Sebastian Giovinco finally made his Sampdoria debut in a 13-minute cameo last week and is now preparing to face his former club Juventus, but Stephen Kasiewicz wonders if the Atomic Ant will be enough for the Blucerchiati to avoid relegation.

The hype surrounding his unexpected move back to Italy last month has dissipated, yet the playmaker may still have a vital role to play as Doria attempt to avoid a catastrophic drop into Serie B. Marco Giampaolo’s side sits just four points clear of the relegation zone and hosts Juventus at the Ferraris on Saturday aiming to prevent a third consecutive league defeat.

The reappointment of Giampaolo as coach in late January has produced mixed results, but in a season notable for wretched defending and injuries to key players – Mikkel Damsgaard and Manolo Gabbiadini in particular – Giovinco can change the narrative. It’s likely he will be deployed as an impact substitute against former club Juventus seven years after leaving the Old Lady for Major League Soccer and Toronto FC.

The attacker bemoaned a lack of playing time when leaving the Bianconeri in 2015 and even at this advanced stage in his career may feel he still has a point to prove in Italian football. At 35 he is clearly not the same player who promised so much but ultimately failed to deliver as a precocious youngster at Juve.

While he cannot be criticized for broadening his horizons – winning the MLS Cup and MVP award in four excellent seasons at Toronto FC and the AFC Champions League with Al Hilal – the standard of football in North America and Saudi Arabia is not quite at the level of Serie A yet. Before his brief appearance in Udine, the striker had not played since leaving Al Hilal in May 2021 and only returned to Italy when a return move to Toronto collapsed.

His fitness remains a question mark. Age will not be a barrier as he joins a squad with enough veterans to start an Italian reality show version of the largely forgotten late 1980s US drama Thirtysomething. Fabio Quagliarella is nearing the end of a glittering career and turned 39 earlier this year, Antonio Candreva celebrated his 35th birthday at the end of February, Francesco Caputo and Tomás Rincón are 34, while Maya Yoshida and Albin Ekdal waved goodbye to their 20s a few years ago.

Never mind mid-life crisis, most Samp Tifosi would be overjoyed with a mid-table finish. There is no guarantee Giovinco can help Doria climb the standings. Yet alongside loan signing Stefano Sensi, he offers another source of creativity in a squad that has often relied on the individual brilliance of Candreva just to stay out of the bottom three.

At his best the Formica Atomica, whose talent has always stood out more than his frequently mentioned height, possesses a kind of unique technical wizardry and close control, which allows him to find space when it doesn’t seem humanly possible. His array of deft turns, intricate flicks and backheels mesmerized defenders in the MLS and Saudi Pro League, while his ability to shoot accurately from distance with either foot and score from free-kicks gained an army of admirers.

Making any kind of impact in the last 10 games of the season at Samp is undoubtedly a tall order. Missing the aerial presence and hold up play of Gabbiadini and deprived of the wonder goals of Quagliarella for most of the campaign as time and injury caught up with the former Azzurri striker, Giovinco offers a thrilling, unpredictable alternative.

The tantalizing prospect of Giovinco curling into the top corner from an impossible angle is enough to excite not only Samp fans but for anyone who follows the Italian game. Facing his old club will surely inspire the multi-talented forward as he aims to leave a lasting impression while ensuring Samp keep their place in Serie A.

@SKasiewicz

One thought on “Sampdoria’s big if as Giovinco prepares to meet Juventus again”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tickets Kit Collector