US LECCE NEWS

Wladimiro Falcone - Concedes four to Atalanta Falcone made two saves and allowed four goals in Monday's 4-0 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Falcone had a poor start to the season as he recorded two saves and still conceded four goals. Last season, he played every single minute, accumulated seven clean sheets and also made a total of 125 saves. He has a tough test next week as he faces defending champions Inter.

AUGUST 19 • ROTOWIRE

Mohamed Kaba - Not ready for opener Kaba (knee) continues to practice on the side, Lecce announced.

Impact Kaba is in the later stages of his rehab after rupturing his ACL back in March but needs more time to be fully up to speed. He's still without a firm timetable to return, and he'll have to go back into full training first.

AUGUST 18 • ROTOWIRE

Lassana Coulibaly - Transfers to Lecce Coulibaly has agreed to a contract until 2027 with an option upon coming in from Salernitana, Lecce announced.

Impact Coulibaly found a new home in Serie A after three solid seasons where he held things down defensively in the midfield for Salernitana. He logged 47 tackles, 25 clearances and 11 key passes in 28 appearances in 2023/2024. He'll likely be a starter once he settles in.

AUGUST 14 • ROTOWIRE

Joan Gonzalez - Out indefinitely Gonzalez hasn't been cleared for football activities as he's undergoing tests to discover the nature of his issue, Sky Italy reported.

Impact Gonzalez was found to be suffering from a new heart condition in the medicals before the start of the new season and will have to go through a lengthy process even when and if he's allowed to resume playing. Balthazar Pierret, Hamza Rafia, and Filip Marchwinski will soak up his minutes.

AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE

Andy Pelmard - Moves to Lecce Pelmard has joined Lecce on loan with a conditioned mandatory option to buy from Clermont Foot, the team announced.

Impact Pelmard will be in contention to replace Marin Pongracic along with Kialonda Gaspar and occasionally fill in at right-back. He posted 51 tackles, 33 interceptions and 89 clearances in 34 matches with Clermont Foot last season, contributing to five clean sheets.

AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE

Filip Marchwinski - Moves to Lecce Marchwinski has officially transferred from Lech Poznan to Lecce and signed a four-year contract with an option.

Impact Marchwinski heads to Italy after a few productive seasons in Poland and will provide depth in several roles in the midfield and in the attack. He tallied 11 goals and six assists in 35 appearances across all competitions in 2023/2024.

JULY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Lameck Banda - Makes summer debut Banda (knee) came off the bench in Wednesday's friendly versus Galatasaray.

Impact Banda was eased into a regular workload during the pre-season due to a previous knee surgery and skipped a pair of matches, but he was able to play well before the opener and is poised to be a full go in about three weeks.

JULY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Joan Gonzalez - Doesn't pass pre-season medical Gonzalez has been deemed unfit to train and play due to a newfound heart condition, Lecce announced.

Impact Gonzalez will undergo a series of specialistic tests to investigate the type and origin of the problem and whether it could be treated. He's out indefinitely until he gets cleared to resume football activities.

JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Kialonda Gaspar - Transfers to Lecce Gaspar has agreed to a deal until 2027 with two more optional years upon joining from Estrela Amadora, the team announced.

Impact Gaspar featured 27 times in the top Portuguese league last season, scoring once. He'll replace Ahmed Touba, who was on loan, as the top deputy if Marin Pongracic and Federico Baschirotto both stay.

JUNE 26 • ROTOWIRE

Christian Fruchtl - Joins Lecce Fruchtl has agreed to a contract with Lecce until 2027, with an option for two further seasons, the team announced.

Impact Fruchtl spent the last two seasons at Austria Wien after leaving Bayern Munich, where he played at the youth level and in the second team. He'll serve as the deputy unless Wladimiro Falcone leaves.

JUNE 25 • ROTOWIRE

Marin Pongracic - Logs six clearances in Italy match Pongracic had six clearances and two blocks and committed four fouls, getting booked, in Monday's 1-1 draw versus Italy.

Impact Pongracic got the nod for the second time in the Euro and did his part, although his side gave up a costly goal in the final minutes of the match. He has registered two tackles, eight clerances and three blocks, with no clean sheets.

JUNE 25 • ROTOWIRE

Youssef Maleh - Heading back to Lecce Maleh has left Empoli following a season-long loan spell, as the option for a permanent acquisition wasn't activated.

Impact Maleh was a full-time starter and a steady contributor, but the club elected not to invest in him at this time. He'll be evaluated by the new Lecce coach, and other sides might take a look at him during the summer.

JUNE 21 • ROTOWIRE

Balthazar Pierret - Joins Lecce Pierret has agreed to a contract until 2027 with Lecce after leaving Quevilly Rouen Metropole on a free transfer, the team announced.

Impact Pierret is coming off a couple of solid seasons in Ligue 2, where he was no stranger to scoring, and also played in the Romanian Super Liga in the past. He'll provide depth behind the starters in the midfield and in the back at first.

JUNE 19 • ROTOWIRE

Tete Morente - Complete Lecce move Morente has completed a move to Lecce for the 2024/25 season, his new club announced Monday.

Impact Morente was a regular for Elche during the 2023/24 campaign in Spain's second tier, recording eight goals and two assists across 39 appearances. He should compete for a spot upfront in Lecce.

JUNE 17 • ROTOWIRE

Nikola Krstovic - Mostly quiet versus Napoli Krstovic created two scoring chances, committed two fouls and had one block in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Napoli.

Impact Krstovic failed to take a shot for just the third time in the season as his team didn't generate much offense in this one. He had a very seesawing first Serie A campaign, getting off to a great start but then falling into a lengthy slump, and then bagging two late consecutive goals. He has hit the net seven times, assisted once and added 92 shots (22 on target) and 41 key passes.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Alexis Blin - Wins two tackles versus Napoli Blin had one interception and three clearances and generated one cross (zero accurate) and three tackles in Sunday's 0-0 draw versus Napoli.

Impact Blin quickly returned to the XI and protected the defense with his hustle in the midfield. He started most of the games in the last three months of the season after being a rotational piece early on. He has tallied 33 tackles, 22 interceptions, 38 clearances and 11 crosses (two accurate) in 31 matches (16 starts), providing two assists.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Dorgu - Pretty good in Napoli clash Dorgu won two of two tackles and recorded two shots (zero on goal), three clearances and two chances created in Sunday's 0-0 draw versus Napoli.

Impact Dorgu played in a few different roles throughout the game and came away with a very well-rounded stat line. He greatly benefitted from a late coaching change, starting the last nine matches of the season after getting intermittent playing time beforehand. He showed great promise and could be poached by a big team given his upside and very young age. He has scored twice and added 41 crosses (seven accurate), 18 key passes and 43 tackels in 32 matches (17 starts).

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Medon Berisha - Creates two chances versus Napoli Berisha recorded two shots (zero on target), two key passes, one inaccurate cross and one corner in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Napoli.

Impact Berisha notched his second start of the season and was lively on offense. He has gotten minutes only after Lecce mathematically avoided relegation. He could have a bigger role next season if he doesn't go out on loan. He has posted two off-target shots, five key passes, three crosses (two accurate) and three corners in six appearances (two starts).

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Federico Baschirotto - Shows well against Napoli Baschirotto had one tackle (one won), one block, and seven clearances in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Napoli.

Impact Baschirotto turned in a solid shift as his side stopped a quality team. He wasn't as dominant as in the past and failed to score after doing so three times last season, but he was still solid. He closed with 21 tackles, 23 interceptions and 142 clearances in 37 matches, contributing to six clean sheets.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Marin Pongracic - Stout in Napoli contest Pongracic registered one tackle (one won), one block, seven clearances and two interceptions in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Napoli.

Impact Pongracic was under pressure but didn't crack and filled it up while helping his team stymie the opponents. He had a regular role this year as he was a lot healthier than last season and logged 43 tackles, 51 interceptions and 128 clearances in 36 matches, with seven clean sheets.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Valentin Gendrey - Logs three blocks versus Napoli Gendrey (thigh) recorded one cross (zero accurate) three blocks, one interception and two tackles in Sunday's 0-0 draw versus Napoli.

Impact Grendy went to distance despite an ailment and contributed especially defensively. He produced more in the final third than in the past, scoring twice and assisting three times in 37 appearances. He also tallied 61 crosses (seven accurate), 55 tackels and 85 clearances in 37 matches.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Antonino Gallo - Fine in Napoli clash Gallo won one of two tackles and had two shots (zero on goal) and two crosses (zero accurate) in Sunday's 0-0 draw versus Napoli.

Impact Gallo wasn't as productive as in other games but still did his part on both ends, and his team didn't concede. He put up career numbers this season, recording three assists and adding 47 key passes, 138 crosses (37 accurate) and 15 shots (three accurate, improving especially offensively.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Wladimiro Falcone - Keeps clean sheet versus Napoli Falcone made five saves and two clearances and didn't concede in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Napoli.

Impact Falcone returned to form after some subpar displays, more by his defense than by him, shutting down the opponents for the first time in a month. He closed another solid season with seven clean sheets, 125 saves and 54 goals allowed in 38 games.

MAY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Valentin Gendrey - Starting Sunday Gendrey (thigh) is in the starting XI for Sunday's match against Napoli.

Impact Gendrey is good to go despite leaving early during last week's match against Atalanta. The right back starts his seventh consecutive match to end Lecce's season Sunday.

MAY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Valentin Gendrey - Avoids injury Gendrey (thigh) returned to full training Wednesday, Lecce informed.

Impact Gendrey was able to shake off the ailment that forced him off early against Atalanta in a couple of days and will be an option for the season finale. He's not a lock to start as usual as the coach might turn to the backups with nothing more on the line. He has scored once and logged 11 crosses (one accurate), seven clearances and four tackles (three won) in the last five rounds.

MAY 23 • ROTOWIRE