Corriere della Sera – In his last experience as Roma manager, Luciano Spalletti would have gladly exchanged his striker, Edin Dzeko, with the one from Fiorentina, namely Nikola Kalinić. According to the Tuscan boss, the ex-Viola attacker would have been preferred because he enjoyed attacking the far post and waiting for the ball to be delivered. Fortunately for Roma, though – Dzeko has stayed while Kalinić’s career has hit a stumbling block after not having much luck at Milan and then Atletico Madrid.
On Sunday afternoon against Sampdoria, the Giallorossi could count on him, though, given the double fracture to the cheekbone of Dzeko. During the international break, Kalinić worked on his conditioning and vastly improved it compared to when he arrived. Kalinić scored at the Ferraris four years ago with Fiorentina but he will likely be making his first start in the Serie A for the first time since 20 May 2018.
