The tension is sky high at Sampdoria after Dejan Stankovic hauled Abdelhamid Sabiri off the field just 35 minutes into the game with Salernitana, to loud jeers from the crowd.
It was still goalless at Marassi when Stankovic made the surprise substitution, which was dictated not by physical fitness or even tactics, but largely down to Sabiri’s attitude.
The Morocco international had not been in the starting XI for two months at club level, chosen today only because of the lack of alternatives with Manolo Gabbiadini suspended, Sam Lammers and Ignacio Pussetto injured.
His approach certainly did not impress the coach, who took him off after just 35 minutes.
There were loud jeers from the crowd, mainly aimed at Sabiri, but Stankovic waved for the fans to keep their focus on cheering the players still on the field battling against relegation.
Sampdoria may well now regret turning down a proposal from Fiorentina for Sabiri in the January transfer window, as he has not been the same player since.
The 26-year-old had raised his profile with five games at the 2022 World Cup, including the third place final defeat to Croatia.