Silvio Merkaj scored on his Vicenza debut. © LR Vicenza

Merkaj flexes his muscles: This is what the FCS departures are doing

On deadline day, FC Südtirol sold their top striker Silvio Merkaj to league rivals Vicenza. The Albanian immediately made his mark in his debut. Here's a brief look at the performances so far of FCS's most important departures.

September 07, 2026

From: dl

With his combative and high-energy playing style, Silvio Merkaj One of the most popular players at Bolzano's Drusus Stadium in recent years, the 28-year-old had also impressed in FC Südtirol's new system during the first two games of the season. Therefore, many fans were surprised when Merkaj was sold at the last minute of the transfer window.

On Sunday, Merkaj, who played the full 90 minutes, celebrated a successful debut for newly promoted Vicenza. In the 2-2 draw away against Virtus Entella, the striker put the club, managed by South Tyrolean coach Werner Seeber, ahead 2-1 in the 75th minute. Afterwards, the emotional Merkaj celebrated exuberantly with the away fans. Only a win was missing for Merkaj to have a perfect debut.

What are the others doing?

FC Südtirol has released a total of 18 players this summer. Among them are... Nicholas PietrangeliThe center-back is still languishing on the bench at Serie B club Juve Stabia. The two FCS flops are also... Simone verdi and Mamadou Coulibaly They are not yet playing a major role at their new clubs – at least not in the league. Verdi was not even in the squad for newly promoted Benevento, while Coulibaly played a half for Serie C club Foggia at the weekend.

midfield player Jacopo Martini He was last used twice as a substitute in Serie B for Carrarese. Karim Zedadka can boast two substitute appearances and one starting appearance at Empoli. Marco Frigerio, who was loaned to Union Brescia (Serie C) on the last day of the transfer window, made his debut as a substitute at the weekend. Defender Frederic Veseli In contrast, he was immediately in the starting eleven for Livorno.

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have shaped FC Südtirol in the long term Raphael Odogwu and Danielle CasiraghiPlaymaker Casiraghi made his debut for Ravenna on Sunday (0-0 at Pescara) and played for just under an hour in midfield for Manuel Fischnaller, who played ahead of him. The now 35-year-old Odogwu is a regular starter for newly promoted Treviso in Serie C and has already scored. Odogwu even scored Treviso's first goal after a 13-year absence from professional football – and that at the Briamasco Stadium in Trento.