OFFICIAL: Minelli loaned to Trapani

Simone Minelli is a very good young footballer. He’s a star with the Azzuri U20s and has 21 goals in 28 appearances with the Fiorentina Primavera. That’s why the 20-year-old winger is getting a second chance to prove himself away from Florence, this time with Serie C outfit Trapani. He’ll probably have to adjust to a new position, and given manager Alessandro Calori’s preference for a 4-3-1-2, that means he’ll play as either a striker or a number 10.

Trapani’s a good landing spot. The Sicilians were relegated from Serie B last year after finishing 19th, and so should be hoping for a quick return to the second tier. With a host of new faces in the attack, he’ll get a fair shot to earn regular playing time, which is what he needs most.

He spent last year at AlbinoLeffe and never really found his groove. He only started 7 of the 26 matches he appeared in and never scored. It was his first time away from the friendly confines of the Viola academy, though, so we can’t be too hard on him, especially since there’s quite a bit to like about him.

Standing just 5’5 (166 cm), he cuts a slightly antic figure with his baggy uniform, like a kid dressing up in his older brother’s clothes. However, his low center of gravity makes him extraordinarily maneuverable at high speeds, and he’s got excellent close control of the ball as well as a penchant for the spectacular (seriously, what kind of sorcery is this?).

While he’s still not ready to be a regular Serie A contributor, he’s already made his senior side bow, coming on for Juan Cuadrado in the first half and assisting a late Marko Marin goal in a Europa League match against Dinamo Minsk. We hope it’s not the last we see of Minelli wearing purple, as he’s a genuinely fun little player. Now he has to prove he can do it regularly for a year. We’ve got all the confidence in the world.