Giovanni Crociata is an important player at AS Cittadella. He wasn't at FC Südtirol. © Social Media Cittadella / Massimo Felicetti

Special return: From FCS flop to beacon of hope

At FC Südtirol he entered the “transfer flop” category. Now Giovanni Crociata is blossoming again at Cittadella and shows that he has not forgotten how to play football. On Saturday there will be a reunion with the white and reds in the Drususstadion (14 p.m.).

13 May 2023

From: cst

Only 5 appearances, none of them with a convincing performance. Giovanni Crociata had a difficult time at FC Südtirol. The delicate Sicilian never played a big role under coach Pierpaolo Bisoli, but at least made 3 appearances in a row at the start of the season. They separated in the winter, which was the best thing for both sides. Crociata briefly returned to his parent club Empoli and was again loaned to Serie B, this time to Cittadella.

Crociata was soon forgotten in South Tyrol, but a real reinforcement had arrived in the small town of 20.000 people near Padua. Crociata scored the winning goal in his first game for Cittadella. 5 more goals followed by the end of February. Since then, however, the man from Palermo has not scored again. This in no way reduces its value for Cittadella, because Crociata is not primarily intended for scoring goals. Instead, he fills an important role in the right eight position in coach Edoardo Gorini's midfield diamond. Crociata is on the move a lot, closes passing routes into the center and attacks the opponent's left-back. Where he didn't fit into Bisoli's system at FC Südtirol, he is enormously important under Gorini in Cittadella. A professional footballer's career can change so quickly - for the worse, but also for the good.

Giovanni Crociata in the FCS jersey. The Sicilian was not happy in South Tyrol. © Bordoni

Crociata proved with his second half of the season in Veneto that he was not a classic bad purchase by Paolo Bravo. He fits into a team that keeps the ball in its own ranks and that plays with eights who intervene in the offense with deep runs. Bisoli does not allow any of this to be practiced in South Tyrol. Don't get me wrong, because Crociata also works well defensively. But he is not a fighting pig like Fabian Tait, not a long-term runner like Luca Belardinelli and not a strategically inclined six-man like Luca Fiordilino. Instead, he is simply a really strong footballer who has found the ideal environment in Cittadella with a coach and playing facility. He will also want to prove this on Saturday at 14 p.m. in his previous living room, the Drusus Stadium. And even if Crociata only brings back vague memories in Bolzano, he should be on the list for the game between FCS and Cittadella.