Sampdoria chronicles Quagliarella's odyssey as journeyman extends deal
Italian forward Fabio Quagliarella has extended his second Sampdoria stay, putting pen to paper on a new deal that will see him at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris through 2019.
Samp announced the news with a statement on its website Friday before taking to Twitter to honour the 33-year-old in an unconventional and fascinating fashion.
Fabio #Quagliarella, a #Samp story#QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/yVzaEcL2A5
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
From a 23-year-old cutting his teeth in Italy's top flight on the heels of a youth career with Torino to playing a part in I Blucerchiati's plans as a player whose career nears its twilight, Sampdoria posted a series of tweets representing Quagliarella's maturation as a player.
We met when you were still a young lad#QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/AYpUiqRT0k
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
Quagliarella first joined the Genoa side in 2006 from newly promoted Ascoli, bagging a baker's dozen of tallies in 35 appearances.
Goal after goal we celebrated together as you became a star#QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/Cy0Se8wuL0
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
Sampdoria ended up finishing ninth that season, earning a spot in the now-defunct Intertoto Cup. At the end of the season, Walter Novellino jumped ship to manage Torino and was replaced by current Watford boss Walter Mazzarri.
Novellino wasn't the only one to part ways with the quaint area sandwiched between the Ligurian Sea and Apennine Mountains ...
And when we parted ways, we knew our paths would cross again#QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/Jnth3y6Ypg
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
With a co-ownership deal putting Sampdoria and Udinese at odds over the emerging Italian international, a blind auction saw the latter outbid his parent club €7.15 million to €6.5 million.
A four-club, four-way swap saw fab Fabio join Udinese from the proceeds of the Vincenzo Iaquinta sale, while Samp nabbed Andrea Caracciolo, with Fabrizio Miccoli replacing Caracciolo at Palermo.
Here we are a few years down the line, and you're still banging them in #QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/HXsKPc68OA
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
Three years with northerners Udinese, highlighted by 25 goals in 73 matches, saw Quagliarella move to hometown Napoli for a €18-million fee in 2009. That spell lasted a year before the 25-time capped Azzurri forward spent the next six years in Turin: four with Juventus, and two in a return to Torino.
April 26, 2015, Quagliarella scored the winner in the Turin derby, giving Torino its first victory over rival Juve in 20 years.
Fast-forward to the 2016 winter window and Quagliarella was loaned back to Sampdoria with an obligation to buy.
Together we've reached some important milestones#QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/EGnclI5WPy
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
In his second spell with Samp, Quagliarella scored his 100th Serie A goal in a 343th league appearance before setting up Luis Muriel for the decisive goal in a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win over Sassuolo.
...and there are still more to come! #QuagliaForever pic.twitter.com/mc9JYHdVOk
— Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) January 13, 2017
What a legend. Get in, Fab!