Joao-Rafael
Despite the fact he was close to extending the deal with the Brazilian Sesc-RJ, João Rafael Ferreira decided to return to Italy in whose top flight he already competed for two seasons, from 2015-2017 with Pallavolo Molfetta (totaling 708 points) and sign with Biosì Indexa Sora. Last season, an outside hitter, who is occasionally summoned for Brazil national team, was one of the most notable players of Superliga playoff semifinalists Sesc. João Rafael became one of the six newcomers in Sora for the 2018/19 The five other are: middle blockers Gabriele Di Martino (Wixo LPR Piacenza) and Davide Esposito (Centrale Del Latte McDonald’s Brescia, Division 2), libero Federico Bonami (Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania, Division 2), the Polish setter Michał Kędzierski (Asseco Resovia Rzeszów, Poland), and Colombian opposite William Bermúdez (won championship title with Al-Rayyan, Qatar). The outside hitter Mattia Rosso renewed with Sora and will spend his third consecutive season in the club.
BCC Castellana Grotte added two more newcomers to their 2018/19 roster. A 24-year-old Russian opposite Yuriy Kruzhkov has arrived in SuperLega side after spending his first season outside the home country. Last season he was a player of the German Bundesliga side Volleyball Bisons Bühl, making 40% hitting in average as his club reached the playoff quarterfinals. Kruzhkov is projected to back up Brazilian Renan Buiatti. Castellana Grotte also engaged middle blocker Simone Scopelliti from Division 2 side Gioiella Micromilk Gioia del Colle.
Another product of Cucine Lube Civitanova volleyball school has returned to the club. Lube announced that they hired a 25-year-old setter Pier Paolo Partenio, whose father Cesar also competed for Lube (in the early 90s), from Diatec Trentino in which he acted as a backup to Simone Giannelli. Before Partenio, Lube brought back two more players who matured in the club youth sector – Enrico Diamantini and Diego Cantagalli. Between 2003 and 2013, Partenio won the titles in the Boy League, Under 14, Under 18 and Junior League with Lube. With the national team of Italy, he won the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Partenio will back up Bruno Rezende „Bruninho“.
Mohamed-AlHachdadi
Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia closed huge transfer! They enriched their roster with a bomber Mohamed Al Hachdadi. The Moroccan opposite came after having an excellent season in France, playing with Stade Poitevin Volley Beach (Poitiers). Al Hachdadi was the top-scorer of Ligue A regular season with 486 points. A 27-year-old player is known by breaking a 30+ point limit per game with ease. While playing in Korea, two seasons ago, Al Hachdadi had impressive numbers as he once scored 46 points in the V-League match.
Calzedonia Verona reached an agreement with 27-year-old setter Riccardo Pinelli. He matured in Azimut Modena youth team before starting his professional adventure in 2008. So far, Pinelli only competed in Italian Division 2, with the exception of the 2012/13 when he returned to Modena. Last season, he wore the jersey of Sigma Aversa (Division 2).
See our sections – Transfers – Done Deals and Transfers – Rumors.
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