Monza have been linked with an ambitious move for PSG’s outcast Mauro Icardi, but that deal is yet to materialise for the Serie A newcomers. In the meantime, they moved to at least get any useful attacker through the door and signed Italy international striker Andrea Petagna on loan from Napoli.Silvio Berlusconi’s club announced that Petagna had signed a one-year loan deal with an obligation to buy “should certain conditions be met”. Petagna, who has one cap for his country, is the latest in a string of signings by Monza this summer after being promoted to the top flight via the Serie B play-offs last season.##NAJAVA_MECA_6564125##The 27-year-old target man moves after two seasons at Napoli, where he scored nine times in 57 appearances. The big target man started his football journey at AC Milan at the age of 13 and showed a lot of promise at the youth level. He’s had several loans to gain experience and prove his ability, but it was the move to Atalanta ahead of the 2016/17 season that really launched his career. He helped the Bergamo club finish fourth and qualify for European competition after a 26-year-long absence. He also made his debut for the Italian national team in early 2017.Ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, he moved to Spal, where he further improved his performance in Serie A, scoring 16 goals in the first season. In January 2020, he was bought by Napoli but remained on loan until the end of the season at Spal, with whom he made a total of 29 goals in 74 games. The Neapolitan experience lasted two seasons, in which, despite a lot of competition, he played 50 games in Serie A, scoring seven goals and appeared 13 times in the Europa League.OFFICIAL: Monza have signed striker Andrea Petagna from Napoli on a season-long loan. pic.twitter.com/DCjDYxbCsi— Transfer News Central (@TransferNewsCen) August 12, 2022 Monza start their campaign on Saturday with the visit of Torino and have signed almost a whole new team, bringing in Italy international Matteo Pessina, who will captain his hometown club after arriving on loan from Atalanta.Others include Gianluca Caprari, who starred for last season’s surprise team Verona and Alessio Cragno, a goalkeeper known for his spectacular shot-stopping and former Inter Milan players Stefano Sensi and Andrea Ranocchia.Monza have a difficult start, facing Napoli, Roma, Atalanta and Juventus in their first seven matches.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 1Saturday19.30: (1.45) Milan (4.50) Udinese (8.50)19.30: (4.50) Sampdoria (3.70) Atalanta (1.87)21.45: (11.0) Lecce (6.00) Inter (1.30)21.45: (2.65) Monza (3.10) Torino (3.00)Sunday19.30: (1.40) Fiorentina (4.90) Cremonese (9.00)19.30: (1.60) Lazio (4.10) Bologna (6.25)21.45: (7.50) Salernitana (4.40) Roma (1.50)21.45: (2.55) Spezia (3.25) Empoli (3.05)Monday19.30: (3.50) Verona (3.50) Napoli (2.20)21.45: (1.51) Juventus (4.60) Sassuolo (7.50)***odds are subject to change
