Bari Injury Crisis: Seven Players Out as Transfer Window Could Reopen

Bari was supposed to focus on climbing the league table and the next four fixtures, three of which at San Nicola. Instead, the club must deal with an injury emergency that, according to La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, has reduced Massimo Rastelli's squad by seven players, from an already limited roster of 23 professionals.

List of Unavailable Players

It all started with the match against Potenza, when left-backs Riccardo Burgio and Alessandro Celli were sidelined in succession, both with muscle injuries that will keep them out for at least a month. Also against the Lucania side, Guido Gomez suffered problems and remains unavailable, uncertain for Saturday's match at San Nicola against Cosenza. During the away trip to Sorrento, captain Valerio Mantovani was added to the injury list, coming off at the end of the first half with fatigue that could prove more serious, as he has not trained in the last two days. There is also the case of Francesco Vicari, who underwent meniscus surgery at the end of the transfer window and has never been called up despite assurances from general director Pierpaolo Marino. The latest blow concerns Giacomo Manzari, who stopped training due to knee pain: the playmaker, the only Bari-born player in the squad, will need to undergo examinations. Additionally, only for Saturday's match, Mattia Esposito will be absent, engaged with the Under 19 in a tournament in Croatia.

Thin Departments

With a 4-3-3 formation, in defense Rastelli would have only Mane, Cocetta, Elia and Mogos at his disposal, with no alternatives except from the Primavera. In attack the situation is no better, with only four available players: Della Morte, Tribuzzi, Butic and Bianchi. The midfield is better covered, where in addition to the most used Darboe, Maggiore, Mendicino and Grcic (expected to return from an intestinal virus) there are available Colangiuli and young Prisco, on loan from Napoli.

Towards a "Reopened" Transfer Window

To address the emergency, according to the Gazzetta, Bari would be ready to sign free agent left-back Matteo Anzolin in the coming days, already attached to the group for days. This would complete the list of 23 professionals, but the regulations allow an exceptional replacement during the season in case of long-term injuries: a possibility the club is carefully evaluating, with the aim of signing another free agent by cutting a current squad member.