Torino president Urbano Cairo is nearing a decision on the club’s next manager, with Ignazio Abate currently considered the frontrunner according to reports from Italy. Cairo has been conducting a thorough search, holding meetings with several candidates, but has been particularly impressed with Abate’s credentials.
Abate has already met with Cairo and sporting director Gianluca Petrachi, leaving a “very good” impression. Cairo previously held a positive view of Abate even during his playing days with Torino in the 2008-2009 season, appreciating his strong personality and ambition. Abate has transitioned successfully into coaching, initially with the AC Milan youth setup, and more recently with Terni and Juve Stabia.
He narrowly missed promotion to Serie B with Terni and came close to achieving Serie A promotion with Juve Stabia, while also developing Torino loanee Alessandro Cacciamani. Despite Abate’s strong position, Cairo intends to also meet with Alberto Aquilani to fully assess all options. Aquilani, the current manager of Catanzaro, has received high praise from Petrachi and Cairo, with his successful track record in youth development at Fiorentina and his recent achievement of securing Pisa’s Serie B safety also noted.
Aquilani’s impressive season with Catanzaro, where he led the team to the playoff final, has also attracted interest from Sassuolo, with CEO Giovanni Carnevali identifying him as a primary target. Carnevali has already met with Abate and plans to meet with Aquilani in the coming days. Cairo has stated his desire for a manager who can develop young players and implement an attractive style of play, and has also spoken with current caretaker manager Roberto D’Aversa, though he has indicated a need for further consideration before making a final decision. The situation remains fluid, with both Torino and Sassuolo vying for the services of Abate and Aquilani.
