Palermo is one of the best-known clubs in Italy. Although now they are still struggling in the Serie D competition, Palermo once had talented players who eventually became stars in several world-famous clubs.
This time, Starting Eleven will try to remind you that Palermo had become a stopover for the world’s big players. If they don’t sell these players, maybe the Serie A competition will be their subscriber until now.
Who do you think these players are? Check these out.
Goalkeeper | Salvatore Sirigu | Torino
Salvatore Sirigu is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. This Italian man has defended Palermo from 2005 to 2011. Sirigu, who previously had played 80 official matches, joined the French giants PSG in 2011.
Seeing a pretty good performance with Palermo, PSG decided to give the number one goalkeeper post to him until the arrival of Kevin Trapp. Sirigu was then loaned to Sevilla and Osasuna before moving permanently to Torino in the summer of 2017.
Now, 32-year-old Sirigu still becomes the mainstay of the club called el Toro.
Right Back | Darmian | Parma
Darmian is predicted to be the future defender of Italy. He who started his career at AC Milan decided to defend Palermo in 2010. His neat appearance stole Torino’s interest.
Darmian also joined Torino before finally being carried off by Manchester United. However, his talent that had attracted many clubs was not too well treated by MU. Even this Italian player decided to return to his hometown to join Parma.
Left Back | Emerson | Chelsea
Emerson Palmieri becomes a name worth considering nowadays. Emerson was born on August 3, 1994, in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He played in the Santos junior and senior teams. On August 25, 2014, Emerson was loaned to Serie A, Palermo. He only played for nine games, but his talent immediately attracted AS Roma.
Now, after wearing Chelsea’s uniform, his game has received a lot of praise. With the Blues Chelsea, he has donated the Europa League trophy in 2018/19.
Center back | Kamil Glik | Monaco
Although his name began to emerge when defending Torino in the 2015/16 season, Kamil Glik started his performance in Serie A with Palermo. He was considered not good enough and was loaned out to Bari before being released to Torino in the summer of 2011 after only one season belonged to Palermo.
He then left for AS Monaco in the summer of 2016 and brought Monaco his first League one champion since 1999/00. Until now, this Polish defender still becomes a mainstay of the club which is based at Louis II Stadium.
Center back | Andrea Barzagli | Pension
Letting Andrea Barzagli go to Wolfsburg might be one of the worst decisions made by Palermo. Barzagli is one of the world’s best defenders. When returning to Italy to strengthen Juventus, he even managed to restore the dignity of the team which nicknamed The Old Lady.
Barzagli, who has made many contributions to Juve, decided to retire in 2019.
Midfielder | Josip Ilicic | Atalanta
Ilicic becomes a name with the most adventurous experience in Italian football. Since leaving from Maribor in 2010 to Palermo, Ilicic has continued to graze in successive Italy with Palermo, Fiorentina and now Atalanta. Ilicic is a potential player and is now quite experienced despite not playing at top clubs.
His recent contribution has even been successful in leading the Bergamo-based club to qualify for the European Champions League competition for the first time in history.
Midfielder | Franco Vazquez | Sevilla
Vazquez played more than 100 league games for Palermo and helped save them from relegation in the 2016/17 season. Franco Vazquez’s name is not as famous as Paul Pogba or Marco Veratti, but he is one of the potential midfielders that Palermo has ever had and is targeted by many top teams such as AC Milan, AS Roma and Juventus.
But since 2016 he was released to Sevilla for 15 million euros. Before joining Sevilla, he packed a total of 109 appearances for Palermo by scoring 22 goals and 22 assists.
Midfielder | Javier Pastore | AS Roma
Palermo is once very lucky to have a player like Javier Pastore. This Argentine player had stirred Italy with extraordinary performances. After being targeted by AC Milan and Juventus, Javier Pastore preferred to try his luck at Paris Saint-Germain in 2011. He performed greatly with Palermo and captivated many clubs. He then chose PSG and became the first choice in the era of Laurent Blanc and Carlo Ancelotti.
During defending Palermo, Pastore had made 82 appearances. He scored 16 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. Now, Pastore is listed as an AS Roma player after his strength at PSG was no longer needed.
Attacking Midfielder | Paulo Dybala | Juventus
Who doubts Paulo Dybala’s performance on the pitch? This Argentine player who is now defending Juventus makes the world puts much attention to him.
When performing for Palermo, Dybala appeared very extraordinary. Juventus did not hesitate to spend 40 million euros just to redeem his services in 2015 ago.
Dybala has spent three seasons at Palermo while scoring 21 goals and 16 assists in 93 matches. Now he is one of the star players whose names continue to be echoed.
Striker | Andrea Belotti | Torino
Like Dybala, Andrea Belotti who had defended Palermo has now become one of the stars in Italy. In 2017, famous clubs such as AC Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea continued to pursue his performance. But Belotti, who has defended Torino, is considered a great asset for the club, so that management refuses to let him go.
For two seasons defending Palermo, Belotti became the team’s first choice with Paulo Dybala. He scored 16 goals in 64 matches in all competitions.
Striker | Edinson Cavani | PSG
Cavani is perhaps one of the best talents Palermo has ever had. This Uruguayan player succeeded in proving that to make it big in Italy at that time there was no need to play for clubs like AC Milan or Juventus.
His name was increasingly sticking out after defending Napoli in 2011. Two seasons ago, Cavani accepted the PSG proposal and is still playing there today. Together with Palermo, Cavani has spent three seasons with notched 37 goals in 117 appearances throughout the event.