Cristiano Piccini to be sold to Real Betis

The writing was on the wall when Cristiano Piccini wasn't called to Moena, and now we can read what it says. As reported by the reliable Gianluca di Marzio, the 22-year-old youth international fullback will return to last season's stomping grounds in Seville in a €1 million transfer. The move has been orchestrated by former Viola backroom man Eduardo Macia, who became the Real Betis sporting director earlier this year.

Piccini has already agreed to terms; the only remaining hold-up is setting a buy-back clause, just in case Fiorentina want the promising Italian back in the future. Expect the official announcement of the deal to arrive sometime in the next few days.

While Piccini only made one career appearance for the senior side, the Primavera product showed enough at Real Betis for them to splash some cash on him, despite missing much of the season due to injury. Although some thought he was ready for a step up with Fiorentina, Sousa apparently eyed his statistics and disagreed, and approved the sale of the Florence-born fullback.

Having sold the only real right-back left in the team (sorry, Nenad, sit back down), Sousa's need for help in that position becomes even more pressing. Fiorentina are linked with a couple: most recently, Giulio Donati, although Taulant Xhaka is still maybe on his way as well (although he's ominously no longer listed by Wikipedia as a Fiorentina player).

Hopefully, they or other reinforcements will arrive soon, and can be sold for a profit as soon as Piccini tears it up with Betis and is duly bought back. Piccini is gone. Long live Piccini.