Palermo’s bold gamble: Strefezza joins as Inzaghi eyes Serie A

Palermo have closed the gap on the right side of attack by securing Gabriel Strefezza in a surprise deal, a move that underlines owner Pippo Inzaghi’s ambition to build a Serie A‑ready squad. The 27‑year‑old Brazilian winger, arriving from Olympiacos, signs a contract through 2030 and is expected to boost the club’s push for promotion.

Il Palermo will pay Olympiacos €2.8 million plus bonuses for the player’s registration. Strefezza, who still had three years left on a €1.5 million deal, will earn €1.2 million per year under his new contract.

The transfer was concluded after a six‑month loan at Parma, where the Greek side had agreed to a renewal with an obligatory buy‑out clause. Olympiacos, however, insisted on a permanent sale, prompting Palermo to step in with the final offer.

Strefezza’s recent spell at Como proved productive: he contributed three goals and two assists in 15 appearances after joining from Lecce in January. His earlier Serie A experience with Lecce in 2021 also adds top‑flight exposure.

In the Serie B campaign with Como, the winger recorded six goals and four assists across 37 matches, a tally that suggests he can raise his output with a full season at Palermo.

He will be reunited with former teammate Federico Barba, a player with whom he shared a successful period three years ago. Their prior chemistry could help Palermo stabilise the back line while the attack evolves.

Inzaghi plans to deploy Strefezza in a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation as the right winger, noting his versatility to operate on the opposite flank or close to the striker if required. This tactical flexibility is intended to shift the team’s balance in pursuit of promotion.

The €2.8 million investment signals Palermo’s determination to leave nothing to chance, and Strefezza accepted a return to Serie B because the club’s project is explicitly aimed at reaching Serie A. The squad also added Vavassori on loan from Atalanta to partner Johnsen on the left, while the right side currently features Gyasi and Le Douaron, the latter viewed as an alternative to Pohjanpalo. Discussions continue about Di Nardo’s future and a possible deal with Pisa for Moreo, underscoring the club’s active transfer window.