Last year on Osservando we covered the fairytale that was happening for the La Viola. This year it is a stark contrast. Fiorentina sit, shockingly, in 20th, having not recorded a win this season. Sitting on six points, all from draws, they are eight points adrift of safety. So what happened?

An attack that has lost its bite

Part of Fiorentina’s success last season, which saw them qualify for the Conference League, was the electric form of Moise Kean. His redemption year, following struggle after struggle, saw him score 19 goals and finish second in the Golden Boot race. That version of Kean has not appeared this season.

The striker looks closer to the misfiring figure seen at Juventus and Everton. With just two goals in 14 league matches so far. Kean has gone from leading the line with authority for the first time in his career, to fronting an attack short on confidence and clarity. The movement is less sharp, the chances fewer, and the assurance in front of goal largely absent. A one-season wonder? It is too early to say, but the drop-off has been stark.

It cannot all be pinned on Kean. Fiorentina’s 3-5-2 system places heavy responsibility on both forwards, and support around him has been equally underwhelming. Roberto Piccoli, signed in the summer for €25 million from Cagliari, has scored just once in 12 appearances. Albert Guðmundsson, brought in permanently after last season’s loan, has fared little better, managing only two goals in 13 matches. Neither has consistently relieved the pressure on Kean or provided the secondary threat the system relies upon.

The numbers underline the problem. Fiorentina’s top scorer this season is defensive midfielder Rolando Mandragora with four goals. One of which came from the penalty spot. When your most reliable source of goals is a holding midfielder, rather than someone leading the line. It points to a deeper structural issue.

The struggles of Fiorentina’s forwards have been evident for weeks now. Chance creation has dried up, confidence has drained away, and the margins at the bottom of the table have only grown thinner. For a side built on balance and control last season, the lack of cutting edge has been impossible to ignore.

Midfield worries and Fagioli flailing

The lack of cohesion extends deeper into midfield. Nicolò Fagioli was brought in to add control and creativity in a double pivot, but his influence has been limited. The midfielder has been a shadow of the player who won theSerie A Under-23 Player of the Year (2022/23). His non-penalty xG is extremely low, reflecting how rarely he finds himself in threatening positions. While his shot-creating actions remain one of the few encouraging aspects of his game, suggesting an ability to create danger rather than deliver it himself.

The greater concern comes without the ball. Despite sitting in a double pivot, his defensive output has been poor. Low tackle and interception numbers have left Fiorentina vulnerable through the centre. Often forcing the back three to step out and exposing space in behind. For a side already short on attacking confidence, that structural weakness has been costly.

The system itself must also be questioned. The 3-5-2, once effective in balancing control and width, has become predictable and blunt. Wing backs are frequently pinned deep, the midfield lacks verticality, and the forwards are often isolated. With Fagioli struggling to impose himself defensively and neither Piccoli nor Guðmundsson offering consistent support to Kean, Fiorentina have become easy to contain and easier to counter.

Managerially, this has reflected poorly. Stefano Pioli’s inability to arrest the slide earlier in the season left the squad drained of belief, and while Paolo Vanoli has since taken charge, the problems he inherited are structural rather than motivational. Tactical tweaks have yet to restore fluidity or edge, and the league position reflects that reality. Fiorentina are not losing because of individual errors alone. They are losing because the collective no longer functions.

January can no longer be ignored

If Fiorentina are to avoid being dragged further into trouble, the January transfer window is no longer optional. It is essential. The priority should be the midfield. A defensively reliable central midfielder who can protect space, win duels and simplify possession would immediately ease the burden on both the back line and the forwards. In midfield, Fiorentina may be better served looking within Serie A rather than abroad. Morten Frendrup remains one of the clearest reference points for the type of player they lack, a midfielder capable of covering ground, winning duels and protecting space without needing the ball. His role at Genoa has been built on balance and discipline, qualities Fiorentina’s double pivot has consistently lacked this season.

Further forward, Fiorentina may also need to reassess their attacking balance. With Kean struggling and both Piccoli and Guðmundsson failing to provide consistent output. Fiorentina already possess experience in Edin Džeko, whose intelligence and link play still offer value despite his age. A profile like Giacomo Raspadori becomes far more compelling for Fiorentina. Raspadori, 25 years old and an Italy international, rose through the ranks in Serie A with Sassuolo, where he debuted in 2019 and eventually became a key attacking figure before moving to Napoli in 2022. At Napoli he was part of two Serie A title-winning squads, contributing goals and creative involvement across 88 league appearances, often as a substitute or secondary option, before joining Atlético Madrid in August 2025 for around €26 million on a long-term contract.

In Spain, Raspadori’s game time has been limited. Across La Liga this season he has made 10 appearances but only started once. While he has yet to score in the league, he has contributed with an assist and shown a willingness to create chances in limited minutes. Regardless of the modest raw outputs, his underlying qualities, including intelligent movement between the lines, the ability to drop into pockets of space, link-up play with supporting runners, and ambidextrous finishing instincts, are closely aligned with what a 3-5-2 system needs from a second striker. His experience in Serie A and with the Italian national team also means he is already comfortable with tactical demands similar to those Fiorentina face.

Raspadori excels at drifting into half-spaces and combining with midfield runners rather than fixating on hold-up play alone, which makes him a useful option as a supporting striker in a 3-5-2. He is comfortable playing as a secondary striker, attacking midfielder, or wide forward, giving Fiorentina tactical flexibility. While not prolific, his ability to involve teammates and play quick one-twos can unlock congested defenses, something Fiorentina have struggled to do. Years in Serie A and two Scudetto seasons at a top club have ensured he understands the tactical nuance required in tight, low-scoring games.

Despite joining Atlético Madrid with reasonable expectations, Raspadori has found minutes hard to come by under Diego Simeone, with multiple attacking options ahead of him and only one La Liga start to his name so far this season. Reports suggest that Atlético could be open to offers in January, including loans or permanent deals, given his limited use. This could present Fiorentina with a potential opportunity to bring him back to Italy at a reasonable fee.

Raspadori represents the type of functional attacking reinforcement Fiorentina should target: a technically adept playmaker and forward who can support a main striker, create space, and contribute intelligently to build-up play, rather than just being a direct goalscorer. Given his Serie A background and the likelihood that Atlético would consider selling or loaning him due to sparse playing time, he ticks the box for a mid-window move that blends tactical fit with attainable logistics.

How Will La Viola Survive

What is clear is that repetition will not fix this. The current squad has been given time, the system has been trusted, and the results have not followed. January offers Fiorentina a chance to correct course, but only if the recruitment addresses the structure, not just the symptoms.

It would be a catastrophe for Fiorentina if they saw themselves relegated. The club have not been relegated from Serie A since 2001–02, a season that spiralled into bankruptcy and a restart in the lower divisions. That is not a period anyone in Florence wants to revisit. This squad is not built for a relegation fight, and the longer they remain rooted to the bottom, the harder it becomes to escape it. January feels less like an opportunity and more like a necessity.