Liberato Cacace (Empoli | Italy)

Empoli can't be relegated. Can't finish lower than 16th.

So I guess Libby is a Serie A player next season.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128453905/all-whites-star-liberato-cacace-living-out-boyhood-dream-in-italy

Cacace has been in and out of the starting XI since his arrival, making eight appearances and four starts, but he said the style of the game has taken some getting used to.

He said the pace of the game was not as fast as it was in Belgium but the players were technically better on the ball, forcing the hard-running fullback to work more on the defensive side of his game.

“I think I’ve improved a lot with my defensive abilities. I think I got caught out a few times but I’ve learned a lot with these coaches here.

“When I signed I didn’t think I was going to be chucked in so soon. I think I had maybe three or four training sessions and then I was on the bench against Bologna and made my debut.

By avoiding relegation, Empoli have triggered a clause that means they are now obligated to sign Cacace to a permanent deal.

Libby is likely to get some more international experience under his belt when Empoli host Ukraine for a friendly match to help the Eastern European nation prepare for their WC play off vs Scotland. 
The match is set to go ahead on 17 May, 8.30pm Italian time. It's likely both teams will give the game due credit as Ukraine will want to be as prepared as possible, and Empoli has nothing left to play for in the league. 

Classy touch by the Italian side with all the gate takings going to a Ukrainian charity. 

coochiee

Empoli can't be relegated. Can't finish lower than 16th.

So I guess Libby is a Serie A player next season.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128453905/all-whites-star-liberato-cacace-living-out-boyhood-dream-in-italy

Cacace has been in and out of the starting XI since his arrival, making eight appearances and four starts, but he said the style of the game has taken some getting used to.

Liberato Cacace made his Serie A debut against Bologna in February.

He said the pace of the game was not as fast as it was in Belgium but the players were technically better on the ball, forcing the hard-running fullback to work more on the defensive side of his game.

“I think I’ve improved a lot with my defensive abilities. I think I got caught out a few times but I’ve learned a lot with these coaches here.

“When I signed I didn’t think I was going to be chucked in so soon. I think I had maybe three or four training sessions and then I was on the bench against Bologna and made my debut.

By avoiding relegation, Empoli have triggered a clause that means they are now obligated to sign Cacace to a permanent deal.

Was reported as a 3 mil euros fee at the time, so hopefully we get a decent payday when its confirmed 

How much would that be if the transfer fee does come out to €3M?

newzealandpower

How much would that be if the transfer fee does come out to €3M?

Hard to know, it all depends on what was agreed when STVV signed him. Both sides knew they were signing him to boost his value & on sell him, so they probably wanted a lower percentage and we would have wanted a higher one. 

Was reported that CCM had a 10% sell on clause for Matt Ryan, that is the only other one I know of.

Live stream to the Ukraine game here
https://youtu.be/Wq_SqwFSyVA

Is this going to be like Eurovision and all the other countries are just going to let Ukraine win?

It finishes 3-1 to Ukraine. 
Looks like Libby played and was beaten to the ball by Yaremchuk (Benfica striker) for the opener...not sure how long he played for though. 
Apparently the home side had a few youth players in the mix. I'd guess Ukraine played a decent size as they have WC play offs coming up 

newzealandpower

It finishes 3-1 to Ukraine. 
Looks like Libby played and was beaten to the ball by Yaremchuk (Benfica striker) for the opener...not sure how long he played for though. 
Apparently the home side had a few youth players in the mix. I'd guess Ukraine played a decent size as they have WC play offs coming up 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/300591266/all-whites-defender-liberato-cacace-plays-in-friendly-match-against-ukraine

newzealandpower

It finishes 3-1 to Ukraine. 
Looks like Libby played and was beaten to the ball by Yaremchuk (Benfica striker) for the opener...not sure how long he played for though. 
Apparently the home side had a few youth players in the mix. I'd guess Ukraine played a decent size as they have WC play offs coming up 

 Nah.. there were 2 men on the inside of Libby that failed to cover the scorer

Empoli (14th) travel to Atalanta (8th) in their last Serie A game of the season

Libby starting! 

Atlanta fighting for a Europa League spot.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/05/21/italy/serie-a/atalanta-bergamo/empoli-fc/3558608/

Edit - Cacace subbed off at 74 mins (score 0-0), and Empoli score a few mins later for a 1-0 win.

They finish season 14th. Atalanta miss the Euro spots.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/128720562/all-whites-defender-liberato-cacace-starts-in-empoli-win-to-end-italian-serie-a-season

Classy. From Niche Cache.

Gotta watch yourself around Liberato Cacace 🤌 #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/BNKf39k9n1

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 23, 2022

Aurelio Andreazzoli, the Empoli head coach has left the club. 
So Libby will have a new gaffer next season. 

So far Paolo Zanetti is being strongly linked with the job. Young coach, went from Serie C to Serie A in 4 years. 
In Serie C he coached Sudtirol to the play offs for two years in a row. Then he moved to Ascoli in Serie B but he was sacked a few months into the job. Finally he moved to Venezia and took them to Serie A. 
And last season he was also in charge as they went down. 
5 W 7 D 22 L, a total of 22 points, not great though they played well in a few games (including against Roma). 

Interestingly, the coach has now come out to say the decision to leave the team was not his and went "against his wishes and intentions". 
Rather strange when you consider that Empoli, who are hardly a mainstay of the Serie A, had a very positive season. 
In other news, young left back Parisi has been linked with a move to another club. Early times but with Marchizza still recovering from an ACL, Libby could be - for a time at least - the only LB on Empoli's books... 

How much of a cut do we think the NIX are in line for when his transfer goes through?

And it’s official, Libby is a permanent Empoli player!

✅ Liberato Cacace e Petar Stojanovic sono calciatori azzurri al 100% 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7iiKPqg80H

— Empoli Fc Official (@EmpoliCalcio) June 17, 2022

Having seen a couple of Empoli games(streaming) where Libby played, I'm not surprised they've made his move permanent. 
He's got huge potential. 

https://www.voetbalbelgie.be/voetbalnieuws/stvv-vangt-miljoenen-voor-cacace/2022/06/17/

If we actually did end up pocketing 1.2m Euros in total from selling Libby, I'm rather happy with that.

harrymc55

Having seen a couple of Empoli games(streaming) where Libby played, I'm not surprised they've made his move permanent. 
He's got huge potential. 

 
It was a loan +obligation to buy, so as long as they stayed up he was joining. It’s basically a way to only pay his Sint Truiden wages for half a season instead of his bumped up Empoli wages, plus ensure you don’t spend money that you won’t have if you are playing Serie B.

RR

21-year-old Liberato Cacace leaves STVV for 3 million euros. The Canaries snatched Cacace from Wellington Phoenix for 1.2 million euros.

https://www.voetbalbelgie.be/voetbalnieuws/stvv-vangt-miljoenen-voor-cacace/2022/06/17/

If we actually did end up pocketing 1.2m Euros in total from selling Libby, I'm rather happy with that.

 tidy little profit by STVV to reinvest - I can suggest a couple more young phoenix players...

maynardf

RR

21-year-old Liberato Cacace leaves STVV for 3 million euros. The Canaries snatched Cacace from Wellington Phoenix for 1.2 million euros.

https://www.voetbalbelgie.be/voetbalnieuws/stvv-vangt-miljoenen-voor-cacace/2022/06/17/

If we actually did end up pocketing 1.2m Euros in total from selling Libby, I'm rather happy with that.

 tidy little profit by STVV to reinvest - I can suggest a couple more young phoenix players...

With Singh and Libby’s record it certainly won’t hurt any other players looking for a club overseas from the Phoenix.

From Flying Kiwis.

Word is that Empoli will pay a €3 million transfer fee for Cacace’s permanent services. That’s a decent profit made by STVV who themselves paid around €1.2 million for him a year and a half earlier – although those figures are from the Belgian side of things and may be disputed. Agent fees, add-ons, signing bonuses, exchange rates... it’s easy for transfer fee quantities to get inflated. Regardless it’s good cash filtering back to the Wellington Phoenix who should get a small percentage in the mail from that €3m (which is a little under NZ$5m).

Played the 1st half in 11-0 and 3-0 wins vs a local teams. 

The other LB, Parisi gets the mood to start in a friendly, vs Trazbonspor. Cacace comes on for the last 30 minuets in a 1-0 win (same score when he came on) 

Empoli host SPAL in Coppa de Italia. Cacace on the bench.

Libby an unused sub as match went to ET (1-1 in NT).
Serie B side SPAL with a 120th min winner, to get up 2-1. 

Some transfer news that my have an impact for Libby. The French Ligue 1 club Nice fc have just signed the young Empoli defender Viti. They are now strongly rumored to be moving on the young Empoli left back Parisi. Nice we’re recently bought by James Radcliffe, one of England’s richest businessman,  owner of the Ineos industrial group. He has big plans for the club. They also just signed Schmeichel from Leicester as keeper and Aaron Ramsey. Could move Libby into number one left back at.Empoli.

austin111

Some transfer news that my have an impact for Libby. The French Ligue 1 club Nice fc have just signed the young Empoli defender Viti. They are now strongly rumored to be moving on the young Empoli left back Parisi. Nice we’re recently bought by James Radcliffe, one of England’s richest businessman,  owner of the Ineos industrial group. He has big plans for the club. They also just signed Schmeichel from Leicester as keeper and Aaron Ramsey. Could move Libby into number one left back at.Empoli.

Parisi has just signed an extension until 2025, which shocked me as I really expected him to move on potentially as soon as this window. Great business for Empoli there, able to demand a bigger fee - wouldn't be surprised if he left despite the extension, meaning opportunity for Libby

From what I've read it's all still up in the air and there's a chance Parisi will stay at the club. He's highly rated and they might want to keep him until January at least. The way he's going, he could command an even bigger fee later in the year or next season. 
Empoli sold Viti for some good dosh (~€13M) so they probably don't need to sell and they'll be careful not to gut their side so close to the start of the season. 

Empoli start their new Serie A season with a trip to Spezia.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/14/italy/serie-a/asd-spezia-calcio-2008/empoli-fc/3812588/

Doesn't get on in a 1-0 loss at Spezia. Empoli didn't play too badly by all accounts but clearly didn't do enough to come home with any points. It's a long season, so Libby will get his chance. 
As Niche Cache said in their latest article, Parisi has the upper hand right now. He's a good full back, well regarded in Italy as a prospect of great ability. It's probably good that they have each other to compete against as this will bring the best out of both Libby and the young Italian. 

Empoli host Fiorentina.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/21/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/acf-fiorentina/3812591/

Like Garbett, Libby an unused sub in a valuable 0-0 draw in the Tuscany derby vs Fiorentina 

Empoli travel to Lecce.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/28/italy/serie-a/us-lecce/empoli-fc/3812604/

Didn't make the bench?!

On the link it has him on the bench. Doesn't look like he got on though.

His competition for that starting LB/LWB role - Parisi, scored Empoli's goal in a 1-1 draw.

Somewhat frustrating start to the season for Libby. 🤨

Libby was on the bench but Parisi had a very good game and even scored Empoli's goal after a long run (deflected but it was attributed to him). So Libby is just going to have to tough it out until he gets his chance 

Tomorrow Empoli (14th) host Verona (17th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/31/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/hellas-verona-fc/3812611/