Parma have begun a new managerial chapter with Alberto Gilardino, but the immediate task is already clear: prepare a side fighting to stay in Serie A for the visit to Inter at San Siro in ten days’ time. The new coach took his first training session on the afternoon his appointment was completed, with David Romero likely to be central to the attacking work ahead.
Key takeaways
- Gilardino has signed until June 2027, with Parma holding an option for two further seasons.
- His introductory press conference is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by a Friday morning friendly against Entella at Collecchio.
- Romero joined from Tigre this summer for €7 million and has been recruited to fill the vacancy left by Mateo Pellegrino’s move to Fiorentina.
- The Argentine has scored twice in four Serie A appearances, despite playing only 166 minutes.
- All eight of Romero’s league attempts have hit the target, while he has completed 71 passes and two dribbles.
Gilardino starts work with Inter on the horizon
The agreement with Gilardino was confirmed yesterday afternoon, and there was no delay before he met the squad on the training pitch. Parma now have a short period in which to introduce the former striker’s methods and ideas to a group facing a demanding fixture at San Siro.
Tomorrow’s media presentation will formally introduce the coach’s project, while Friday’s late-morning meeting with Entella at the Collecchio training ground should offer a first opportunity to work through aspects of that approach in a match setting. The focus, though, will quickly return to the league and the trip to Inter.
Gilardino inherits a team whose season will be shaped by the battle to remain in the division. In that context, the contribution of a reliable centre-forward carries particular weight, and Romero is being viewed as the player who can give Parma a reference point in the final third.
Romero’s early case for responsibility
Romero arrived from Tigre in the summer for €7 million and has been asked to assume the role previously held by Mateo Pellegrino, who has joined Fiorentina. His job is not simply to score: Parma need him to stretch opponents with runs in behind when required, while also linking play with the midfield in tighter areas.
His opening numbers offer encouragement. Across four Serie A outings, Romero has registered goals away to Como and at home to Genoa. He has needed just 166 minutes to do so, and his eight shots have all forced a save or found the net rather than missing the target. The forward has also recorded 71 successful passes and two completed dribbles.
Those figures reflect a player whose first instinct is directness. Romero has not built his early impact on elaborate individual play; his value has come from quick decisions, physical commitment and a clear focus on goal. There is still room for development, but he has shown an ability to connect with team-mates and the determination required for Parma’s campaign.
Former Parma striker Alessandro Melli believes the ingredients are there for Romero to become an important figure. “For his technical attributes and physical qualities, he is someone who can make supporters dream,” Melli said. “As a devoted Parma fan, I only hope we are not brought back down too sharply.”
Gilardino, himself a former centre-forward of the highest level, will now work closely with Romero as Parma try to turn a promising beginning into the sustained output required over the months ahead.
