Torino find themelvesin a state of red alert following Duvan Zapata’s knee injury sustained during last Saturday’s match against Inter. The Colombian striker’s condition appeared serious from the outset, with the Granata captain visibly distressed and leaving the field on a stretcher. While today is crucial for determining the extent of the injury and outlining a recovery plan, sporting director Vagnati is preparing for the worst-case scenario and considering potential reinforcements.
According to La Stampa (via Calciomercato), if Zapata’s absence proves to be prolonged, Torino’s management might explore the free agent market rather than waiting for the January transfer window. Among the profiles informally proposed to Torino in recent hours is that of Mario Balotelli. The former Inter and Milan striker is currently without a club after concluding his second stint in Turkey with Adana Demirspor, where he scored 7 goals in 16 appearances. Balotelli has been training independently in Brescia for several weeks and has already turned down a couple of offers from abroad, as his desire is to return to Serie A.
Besides Balotelli, other players on Torino’s radar include Wissam Ben Yedder, another 1990-born striker awaiting a call after his time at Monaco ended, though he faces potential consequences related to an alleged sexual assault case. Former Bayern Munich player Eric Choupo-Moting (born 1989) and ex-Udinese forward Isaac Success (born 1996), who played 27 matches and scored one goal in last season’s Serie A, are also under consideration.
For now, pending the diagnosis on Zapata and the decision of the transfer team, Torino will rely on Scottish striker Ché Adams – who has already scored four times between the league and Coppa Italia – and Antonio Sanabria, who has found the net once in the 218 minutes granted by Paolo Vanoli in this early part of the season.
