There are those who arrive and those who, on the contrary, seem increasingly closer to saying goodbye. Goncalo Esteves is virtually a Catanzaro player, Alphadjo Cisse may no longer be one by Saturday: PSV Eindhoven awaits him. The Giallorossi’s Wednesday was important in both cases, even if for the number 80 the crucial steps were made in Veneto, not in Calabria. Esteves landed at Lamezia Terme airport mid-morning and then immediately went to undergo in-depth medical tests: having passed without problems, in the afternoon he met the coach and his new teammates in Giovino, but limited himself to working in the gym. This morning he should train with the group and it cannot be ruled out that he will be called up for Saturday’s away match in Bolzano.
The 21-year-old Portuguese is tied to the Eagles until 30 June 2028. It is an investment in the future by the club, which took him at no cost from Udinese, who in turn will be paid 50% of any future resale. The Friulians brought him to Italy in the summer of 2024 only to send him on loan first to Switzerland, to Yverdon, then to Portugal, to Alverca. He played little there and hasn’t been involved since November, but despite a condition that can’t be at his best, the boy doesn’t lack potential. The Giallorossi hope he can prove it immediately.
Esteves was an old obsession of sporting director Ciro Polito, who had been following him for some time and only managed to get him now, with an operation similar – in terms of methods – to the one completed for Favasuli with Fiorentina last summer. Pushing winger who played more often on the right, but also moved with ease to the left, due to his technical characteristics he recalls both the former Giallorossi player Quagliata and the Bari native Dorval, two more of Polito’s goals. Esteves is therefore an additional alternative on the two flanks and an asset for the club, which is thus continuing with the line of rejuvenation of the staff also thinking about next season.
For this reason we can expect the signing of a similar profile (in age) in attack. The rumor circulating of an interest in Ambrosino’s return is currently baseless. Not because they don’t like it, but because a survey was carried out in December and then there was no follow-up. The striker from Procida, in the Giallorossi two years ago, has a very high salary for the parameters of B: Venezia would have already taken him if a dispute between his agent and Antonio Conte had not frozen his transfer, but the lagooners always remain his most possible destination, followed by Avellino. Cisse’s arrival at PSV seems increasingly closer because Hellas Verona and the Dutch have reached an agreement for the transfer on a basis of six and a half million euros plus another million and a half in bonuses.
For Catanzaro, for the interruption of the loan from the Venetians, a check of seven hundred thousand euros should be issued as compensation. If Cisse hadn’t had the opportunity to show his talent in the Giallorossi, such a leap (and price) would have been impossible. And at this point the consent of the Calabrians is decisive.
