Serie B club Sampdoria are ready to hand Lorenzo Insigne a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months as they look to secure the veteran winger on a free transfer.
Insigne, who turned 35 at the start of June, became a free agent on June 30 when his short-term deal with Pescara expired. The 54-cap Italy international joined the Serie B side in January following a three-year spell with Toronto FC, but could not prevent their relegation to Serie C despite scoring five goals in 13 appearances during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.
According to reports in Italy, Sampdoria have identified the former Napoli captain as a target for the 2026-27 season. The club hope to leverage their position in Italy’s second tier to offer Insigne a chance to remain in the division rather than drop down to Serie C with his former employers.
Greek alternative emerges
However, Sampdoria face competition for the diminutive attacker’s signature. Greek Super League newcomers Iraklis FC, coached by Insigne’s former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri, are also monitoring the situation.
Mazzarri previously worked with Insigne at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and could offer the forward a reunion in Thessaloniki. The 63-year-old guided Iraklis to promotion from Super League 2 last term and is now looking to strengthen his squad for the top-flight campaign.
Career crossroads
The potential move to either Sampdoria or Iraklis would mark a new chapter for Insigne after he established himself as a Napoli icon during over a decade in Naples. The forward departed for North America in 2022 to join Toronto FC before returning to Italy earlier this year.
Insigne will assess his options as a free agent during the summer window, weighing the prospect of remaining in Italian football against a move to Greece with a familiar face in the dugout.