Fiorentina's fight to avoid relegation: Entrusting the responsibility to De Gea

27/12/2025 07:45:00 FieldFrenzy

Last weekend, Fiorentina achieved their first win in this Serie A season after 16 rounds by dominating Udinese 5-1 at home. It was likely no coincidence that this also marked the first game where goalkeeper David de Gea was given the captain's armband.

The critical situation, with only 6 points gained from 6 draws in the first 15 matches, forced Fiorentina’s coach Paolo Vanoli to try every possible solution. In the midst of this darkness, a ray of hope emerged. The decision to change the captain was made on the flight back from a 0-1 defeat to Lausanne in the Conference League, a loss that almost cost Vanoli his job. In fact, Vanoli had to save not only the team but also his own position.

Assigning the captaincy to De Gea was not simply giving him authority but a necessary measure to stabilize the dressing room. Luca Ranieri, a player promoted from the youth squad, agreed to hand over the captain’s armband to the senior goalkeeper, the most experienced and mentally strong member of the team. This change both utilized the reputation and influence of the former Manchester United star and helped Ranieri relieve the heavy responsibility of being a player who understands the fans’ disappointment better than anyone else. Considering Fiorentina has the worst defense in the league with 27 goals conceded, it was crucial to restore the mindset of the key defensive players. Even De Gea has had a poor season with mistakes that cost Fiorentina 8 points, but within a confused team, the experience and resilience of the veteran Spanish goalkeeper still stand out the most.

David De Gea is the new captain of Fiorentina.

The resounding 5-1 victory against Udinese seemed to answer the question about the impact of this pivotal change. On that day, Fiorentina truly transformed, pushing forward with great momentum and high efficiency. Both De Gea and Ranieri performed very well, providing a defensive foundation that inspired confidence among their teammates in attack.

The effort to salvage a disastrous season, with the looming threat of relegation despite the first win, was reinforced by Fiorentina’s ambition to appoint Fabio Paratici, a reputable figure, as sporting director. The former director of Juventus and Tottenham is considered a key addition to identify suitable personnel solutions to help the club escape the relegation zone. Paratici’s arrival, with a proposed 5-year contract, could enable Fiorentina to loan center-back Radu Dragusin, who previously performed excellently in Serie A with Genoa, from Tottenham. Paratici originally brought Dragusin to Tottenham and might now bring him back to rescue the player’s career.

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