Parma - injuries & suspensions October 2026

Parma finished last season’s Serie A campaign in 12th place, earning 45 points. Their biggest problem was in attack: just 28 goals scored was one of the weakest tallies in the league. The club brought in new forwards over the summer, but also reshaped other areas of the team and said goodbye to several key players. The start of the new campaign did not bring the hoped-for improvement. At the end of September, Carlos Cuesta lost his job and Alberto Gilardino took charge of the team.

Gilardino returns to the club

Cuesta had been in charge of Parma since 2025. The team finished mid-table in his first season, but a slow start to the following campaign prompted the board to change managers. He was succeeded by Gilardino, who played for Parma between 2002 and 2005. He scored 56 goals for the club during that time. The new coach has little time to get to know the team. His main task is to improve their attacking play, as Parma had already struggled to finish chances in the previous campaign. Gilardino is taking over midway through the season, so he cannot afford to make sweeping tactical changes right away.

New forwards expected to score goals

Parma are pinning their hopes above all on El Bilal Touré, who has joined on loan from Atalanta. The Mali international has played in several European leagues. He is quick, physically strong and capable of exploiting space in behind the defence. The club expects him to help solve its goalscoring problems.

The other new forward is José David Romero, signed from Argentine side Tigre. The 23-year-old signed a contract until 2031 after an impressive season in his homeland. He can run into space behind the defensive line, but is also effective playing close to another striker. Matija Frigan, Pontus Almqvist and Nesta Elphege remain in the squad. However, Mateo Pellegrino’s move to Fiorentina means losing a forward who knew the team well and could compete for the ball in the penalty area.

More options in midfield

Giovanni Fabbian has joined Parma on loan from Fiorentina. The midfielder likes to get forward and can time his runs into the penalty area well. The club have also signed Vincent Sierro on a permanent deal; he brings experience from the Swiss and French leagues. Adrian Bernabé and Mandela Keita remain in the team. The former brings technical ability, while the latter can help win the ball back and provide cover in midfield.

Oliver Sørensen has left the team on loan to Celtic, along with several players who had smaller roles. Gilardino must now work out how best to combine the midfielders at his disposal. Parma need both players who can build attacks and those who can stop their opponents’ moves.

Departures in defence and goal

One of the new defenders is Diego Carlos, who has joined on loan from Fenerbahçe. Franco Carboni and young Dominik Drobnič have also arrived. The reinforcements were needed after Parma lost Alessandro Circati, who moved to Benfica, and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who was sold to Aston Villa.

Suzuki’s departure is a particularly painful loss. The goalkeeper was one of the team’s standout players, while Circati offered hope of a long-term solution at centre-back. More responsibility now falls on Enrico Delprato and Emanuele Valeri. The defenders must adapt to a changed setup, while goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi and the new centre-backs need time to build an understanding.

A fight for a trouble-free season

Parma have kept a young squad, but the summer departures affected several key positions. Changing managers during the campaign further complicates the situation. Gilardino must improve the team’s finishing while also shoring up a defence that has lost two important players. Much will depend on how quickly Touré and Romero settle into their new surroundings. After finishing 12th last season, the main objective remains survival, but first the team must start making better use of the chances they create.