San Siro was lit up on the opening night of the Serie A season by a revitalized Torino under new manager Ivan Vanoli, rather than the home team, AC Milan. This was a satisfying moment for Torino president Urbano Cairo, as the visitors showcased their ability to take charge in football’s grand theatre. Despite a late equalizer from Milan that left Torino feeling slightly cheated, the match hinted at a promising future for the Granata, who are clearly undergoing a transformation that just needs a bit more time to come to fruition.
Torino displayed a fresh look with new leadership and significant additions to their squad, although the recent departure of Bellanova will require some adjustments. President Cairo shared an interesting insight: “After the European Championships, the player’s agent, Paolo Busardò, conveyed some discomfort from Bellanova, who was hoping to move to the Premier League. The opportunity to join Atalanta, a Champions League team, arose, and he was eager to go, so I decided to let him leave. He has always behaved well with us, but staying reluctantly is not ideal. It can become a problem over time.”
Bellanova’s desire to change clubs was a crucial factor in his departure. Cairo clarified that no one was forced out, saying, “I was also asked about Zapata, but he wanted to stay at Torino, to remain with enthusiasm, so I gladly rejected the offer. He stayed and is now the captain. A year ago, I turned down two significant offers for Ricci and Sanabria. Last market window, we invested 30 million euros and only brought in 10 from Singo’s sale.”
Cairo continued to discuss the transfer market, stating it is far from over: “We will make at least three more signings, definitely bringing in two center-backs and a replacement for Bellanova. The players we’ve brought in so far have proven their value. A player cannot just be assessed by their price; a club must also be able to identify quality players to develop, as many clubs do in all leagues. We’ve signed Coco, Adams, and Borna Sosa, and more will come. Our goal is to build a strong and competitive team: I reiterate, a player’s capabilities should not be judged solely by their transfer fee.”
Every decision is well thought out and part of a broader strategy. The finances of all clubs are still recovering from the post-COVID situation, and football has not been adequately supported. This is a recurring theme for Cairo, who is active in league discussions. He emphasized again, “All football clubs, even the largest ones, conduct transfers by selling, because football must be sustainable. This principle of sustainability is shared by all clubs and is essential for securing a safer and more solid future for the sport.”