Torino appoint Petrachi as Vagnati departs after five years | OneFootball

Torino have ended a five-year era under Davide Vagnati, a period marked by limited impact, sporadic flashes of promise, and missed opportunities. The club often hovered in mid-table obscurity, occasionally flirting with relegation.

Vagnati’s tenure featured questionable moves, such as the Bonifazi transfer during his time at SPAL, a deal that cost 12 million euros and caused headaches for his former club.

Presiding over a “could but won’t” or “want but can’t” approach, Vagnati left Torino with few lasting legacies. President Urbano Cairo, belatedly recognising the need for change, orchestrated a quiet handover.

PARMA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 29: Davide Vagnati Sporting Director during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Torino FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 29, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Petrachi returns to Torino

Petrachi, who had rebuilt his relationship with Vagnati through recent meetings in Milan, was identified as the ideal candidate to reverse Torino’s fortunes. His record speaks for itself: major pluses like Bremer, discoveries such as Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, and the development of forwards including Ciro Immobile.

Petrachi’s return, set to be officially announced in the coming hours, signals a clear shift in strategy ahead of January. Remarkably, Vagnati participated in a recent market meeting, unaware that the change had already been decided.

EMPOLI, ITALY – MAY 19: Gianluca Petrachi general manager during the Serie A match between Empoli and Torino FC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 19, 2019 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The former technical director’s tenure will now be remembered as a prolonged period of stagnation in the club’s proud history, a void that all but a few commentators failed to notice amid years of deferential coverage.