Serie A

KING CIRO RETURNS TO ITALY

Immobile has joined Bologna. The striker from Campania returns to Serie A to guide the Rossoblù in their European season and to chase down new personal records.

CIRO IMMOBILE TO BOLOGNA: A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE ITALIAN STRIKER

King Ciro is back and for good. The best current goalscorer in Serie A chose Bologna to write a new chapter in his career, in what will be a crucial season for the club, involved in the league, UEFA Europa League and the defence of their Coppa Italia. It is a poignant decision that mirrors the path of many other great Italian strikers who made the move to the Dall’Ara, a perfect place to find form and to shine even in the more mature phase of your career. Three names above all stand out for the Rossoblù: Marco Di Vaio (today the sporting director and architect of the Immoblie deal), Beppe Signori and the Divine Ponytail, Roberto Baggio, scorer of 22 goals in 30 appearances in his single, extraordinary season in Bologna. It is indeed the world-class forward from Caldogno who has set a target for Immobile who is only four goals behind him in the all-time Serie A top scorers list. Ciro is already part of an elite few who have scored over 200 goals in Italy’s top division, an achievement he can add to the many milestones achieved with Lazio, and he is in fact their top scorer of all time.

When his adventure with the Biancocelesti came to an end, last summer, Immobile chose to leave Italy to look for new challenges, reopening the door to football abroad after stints in Dortmund and Seville.

FROM ROME TO ISTANBUL: A YEAR WITH BEŞIKTAŞ

However, in Turkey, his taste for goal never let him down. With Beşiktaş, Immobile won over the fans right from the very start: he got a brace in his Supercup debut, and another in the second half of the Europa League preliminary round and a fantastic start to the league season with eight goals in the first nine league games. Despite a slight decline in the middle of the season, the forward from Torre Annunziata ended the campaign on 15 goals and four assists in 30 appearances, proving his deadliness from the spot (eight penalties converted in the Super Liga). Very respectful numbers for a 1990-born forward whose goal-scoring instinct is unwavering.

WHAT DOES IMMOBILE BRING TO BOLOGNA: EXPERIENCE AND HUNGER FOR GOALS

Immobile’s move to Bologna gives him the chance to parallel the feats of forwards like Toni, Klose and Di Natale, 35-year-old-plus stars with 10+ goals in a season. There is no lack of competition: the youngsters Castro and Thijs Dallinga are ready to compete for the starting position, but above all they will be looking to learn the secrets of their position from one of the best in the role.

Italiano’s football is intense and counter-attacking, styles that perhaps aren’t Immobile’s standout qualities, but they will work perfectly with his ability to find space and to clinically finish. In a team that creates plenty of chances, his flair in front of goal can make a big difference.

And who knows, perhaps a good season could convince Gennaro Gattuso to reopen the doors to the national team ahead of the World Cup. King Ciro is back and he will want to continue on from where he left off.

(Photo Getty Images + X Bologna)