Sunderland Join The Chase For 22-Year-Old Centre-Back: Will He Fill The Right Gap?

TL;DR

Sunderland is pursuing a summer transfer for 22-year-old centre-back Mariano Troilo from Parma, reflecting his rising reputation in Serie A. The Black Cats have made initial enquiries about the player.

Key points

Sunderland is interested in Mariano Troilo.
Troilo is a 22-year-old centre-back from Parma.
He joined Parma for over €7 million in August 2025.
Troilo has a 20% sell-on clause in his contract.
His reputation has grown during the Serie A season.

Mariano TroiloSunderlandParma

Sunderland Join The Chase For 22-Year-Old Centre-Back: Will He Fill The Right Gap?

Sunderland have started making enquiries with Mariano Troilo’s camp about a summer deal, joining the chase for the 22-year-old Parma centre-back. The Black Cats’ interest arrives at a moment when the Argentine has genuinely earned the attention, and the timing shows just how quickly his reputation has grown during a single Serie A season.

Sunderland make their move for Parma’s quietly impressive Argentine

Troilo joined Parma on a five-year contract in August 2025 for over €7 million, making him one of the most expensive sales in Belgrano’s history, with a 20% sell-on clause included in the deal. He did not hit the ground running, and many observers wrote him off as a typical case of a South American player needing a long time to adjust.

Since January, however, Troilo has started 15 games in 2026 alone and scored a big goal against Milan in March, while also holding his own in back-to-back starts against Inter and Napoli. That is not an easy run of fixtures. Troilo has replaced Giovanni Leoni in the starting eleven and kept his spot convincingly, which points to genuine improvement rather than luck.

ParmaToday praised his attitude and work ethic, and a physical scrap with Nicolò Barella showed he won’t be bullied, a quality that quickly wins over teammates and fans alike. His market value now sits around €9.7 million, reflecting his recent rise. Parma, though, are in no rush to sell and will only let him go for a significant offer.

Q&A

Why is Sunderland interested in Mariano Troilo?

Sunderland's interest in Mariano Troilo stems from his impressive performance in Serie A, which has significantly raised his profile.

What is Mariano Troilo's transfer history?

Mariano Troilo joined Parma in August 2025 for over €7 million, making him one of Belgrano's most expensive sales.

What challenges did Troilo face after joining Parma?

After joining Parma, Troilo struggled initially to adapt, leading some observers to believe he was a typical South American player needing time to adjust.