Torino Reinstate Former Transfer Chief Gianluca Petrachi as Sporting Director After Axing Davide Vagnati

Torino wasted little time in their search for a new sporting director after putting an end to Davide Vagnati’s five-year spell.

Vagnati has been at the helm of Torino’s sporting operations since 2020, overseeing three top-half finishes across his tenure.

This season has not been as kind on Il Toro, who sit just four points above the relegation zone in 16th, and have conceded a league-high 26 goals in 14 games.

Despite leading 2-0 at home, Torino were undone by Cristian Pulisic’s heroics in Gameweek 14 as they slumped to a sixth consecutive match without a win.

A statement released by the club on Wednesday reads: “Torino FC announces the immediate dismissal of Davide Vagnati from his role as sporting director and head of the technical side of the club.

“Torino FC thanks Vagnati for the work he carried out, and for the commitment he showed over these last five years, and wishes him all the best in the continuation of his career.”

Gianluca Petrachi Returns as Torino Sporting Director

Torino have since announced former sporting director Gianluca Petrachi will reprise his role as the club’s technical head.

Petrachi left the club in 2019 after serving as sporting director for nine years, and served a brief one-year spell at Roma before an acrimonious exit.

Whether Monday’s result against Milan prompted a change in hierarchy is unclear, but the club are seemingly putting faith in the manager. Marco Baroni was named Torino manager just sixth months ago after now-Fiorentina manager Paolo Vanoli was dismissed in the summer, and he remains in the hot seat for now, despite the boardroom reshuffle.

He was removed from his role at Roma after being accused of ‘gross managerial misconduct’, which came after a major fallout with then-President James Pallotta.

 The resulting tussle between the two parties saw Petrachi appeal Roma’s initial win in court, where he was owed compensation for wrongful dismissal after a messy legal battle.

Petrachi returns to Turin with a strong track record behind him, despite the brief spell in the capital threatening to dent his reputation.

He was responsible for overseeing one of the club’s more sustained periods of success between 2010 and 2019, where they were promoted from Serie B in his second season before five top-half finishes and qualification to Europe.

During his first spell with the club, Petrachi was responsible for bringing in the likes of Matteo Darmian, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Ciro Immobile and perhaps most famously, club legend Andrea Belotti.