Torino president Urbano Cairo says he would be happy to keep Alessandro Buongiorno at the club: ‘He’s our ideal captain’. The centre-back has been linked with a move to Napoli this summer, with reports suggesting he is high on coach Antonio Conte’s wish list.
Speaking at the presentation of a book dedicated to Silvio Berlusconi, Torino FC president Cairo addressed various topics, including transfer rumours and the club’s current coaching situation:
“I haven’t seen Conte in a long time, so I’m not sure if he has this fixation on Buongiorno. But I would be very happy if Buongiorno stayed with us because he is our ideal captain. He’s been with us for 18 years,” Cairo stated. This endorsement underscores Buongiorno’s importance to the team, highlighting his loyalty and leadership.
Following the departure of Ivan Juric, Torino is currently without a head coach. Paolo Vanoli has emerged as a leading candidate for the position. However, Cairo remained noncommittal about the appointment. “I don’t know, since we haven’t made a decision yet. I’m not sure if Vanoli can be as intense as Sacchi was, according to the book,” he commented. This ambiguity suggests that the club is still deliberating on its next steps for the managerial role.
Cairo also touched on the inclusion of Torino players Raoul Bellanova and Buongiorno in the Italian national team for the upcoming European Championship in Germany. He expressed disappointment over Samuele Ricci’s omission from the squad. “Having two Torino players at the Euros is wonderful. I’m sorry for Ricci because he deserved to be there too; he had a fantastic season and a great finish. Spalletti is in charge, so I’m happy for Buongiorno and Bellanova,” Cairo remarked. This shows his pride in the club’s contributions to the national team and his empathy for Ricci’s situation.
