With just three points on the board after six games, Richard Hough, author of Verona Campione, the Miracle of 1985, reports on Verona’s emerging international stars currently catching the eye and asks if it’s time for Victor Nelsson, the next Danish legend to emerge?
Hellas Verona are currently sitting deep in the relegation zone with just three points from the opening six games of the season. That kind of form (0.5 points per game) is unsustainable if Hellas are to secure their stated objective of survival in Serie A this season. Indeed, with two “winnable” games on the horizon (against fellow relegation contenders Pisa and Cagliari), the fate of Verona’s season, and certainly that of coach Paolo Zanetti, is already hanging in the balance.
As usual, the results don’t tell the whole story, and Verona’s performances in recent games haven’t been half as bad as the scant points tally would suggest. Indeed, Hellas dominated the match against Sassuolo (possession 58.6% /41.4%, shots on target 9/3, completed passes 438/312), and were unfortunate to lose to a 71st minute Andrea Pinamonti penalty (actually, Montipo saved the penalty, but Pinamonti reacted first to the rebound).
Scots flourishing in Serie A
Josh Doig, one of a growing band of jocks currently flourishing in Serie A, returned to Verona on Friday night to a warm reception from Verona’s East Stand. With his parents in the opposite stand to support him, it was an accomplished performance from the Scottish left-back, and he can consider himself unfortunate not to get a call up for Scotland’s crucial World Cup Qualifiers against Greece and Belarus this week. But, in a squad that includes Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey and Kieran Tierney, Steve Clarke has no shortage of rampaging full-backs to choose from.
Verona were also unfortunate against Roma, having created enough chances to take something from that game, and against Juventus too, only a controversial VAR decision ruled out what might have otherwise have been a historic victory for the Gialloblu.
Some of Verona’s individual performances have been impressive as well, with Nigerian Gift Orban and Brazilian Giovane attracting the most attention. At just 23 and 21 years old respectively, these raw young offensive talents are certainly worth keeping an eye on, but they must start scoring soon if Hellas are to emerge from their current predicament.
Another young player who has caught my eye in recent games is the Algerian, Rafik Belghali. Although officially designated a right back, he’s playing in a much more offensive role for Hellas, providing six of Verona’s 12 crosses into the box in that game against Roma. In fact, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport’s player rating, he was the best player on the pitch that day (along with Roma’s Mile Svilar). As a reward for his eye-catching form, Belghali received his first call up for the Algerian national team earlier this week as they prepare for two decisive matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Danish Dynamite
It’s a Dane, though, who has really stood out for me, with some commanding performances in the heart of the Hellas defense.
Twenty-six-year-old Victor Nelsson (even the name has a certain imperious bearing) is currently on loan from Galatasaray. Born in the Danish seaside resort of Hornbæk (yes, they have beaches in Denmark), the Turkish giants paid €7 million for him in 2021. He won back-to-back Süper Ligs with Galatasaray in 2022/23 and 2023/24, racking up 144 appearances in just three seasons, turning in the kind of performance that prompted Jose Mourinho to urge Napoli to sign him earlier this year. A number of other clubs, including West Ham, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, were also rumoured to be tracking the powerful defender.
It was Roma, however, who secured the Dane’s services in a €0.5m loan deal reached in February this year, but he made just four appearances for Claudio Ranieri (Roma’s third manager of the season following the dismissal of Daniele De Rossi on 18 September and Ivan Juric just a few months later). By the summer, Nelsson was once again on the move, with Hellas finally agreeing a loan offer with the right to buy on 21 August 2025. He made his Hellas debut, alongside fellow Dane Martin Frese, just four days later!
Now, these players are not exactly household names. But they do conform to Verona’s recent investment strategy of providing a shop window for emerging young talent, so don’t be surprised to see one or more of them leave in the January transfer window, especially if they continue to impress for Hellas.
Of course, Frese and Nelsson aren’t the first Danes to play for Verona, and it was hardly surprising to encounter two burly beer-guzzling Danes at the Bentegodi last Friday night for the Sassuolo game. Wearing matching Nelsson emblazoned replica kits, they are exactly the kind of big-spending ground hoppers that Verona’s American owners are keen to attract this season.
A Season with Verona
Frese and Nelsson join 19-year-old Tobias Slotsager in the current crop of Danes at the Bentegodi, following the departure of Casper Tengstedt (7 goals in 26 appearances) in the summer to Feyenoord. Before that, there was of course the legendary Danish defender Martin Laursen, who scored a crucial goal for Hellas in that 2001 relegation play-off so memorably recounted by Tim Parks in his seminal A Season with Verona.
It was 21 June 2001. After a long, hard season, Hellas were in a play-out with southern rivals Reggina to avoid relegation. Before a ball had even been kicked, a fierce battle ensued over who would have home advantage for the second leg (there was some doubt about whether Bentegodi, which was due to host a Vasco Rossi concert, would even be available).
Under a scorching sun, despite the 8pm kick-off time, and in front of a packed Bentegodi, it was Laursen who soared majestically to meet an Adrian Mutu corner with a powerful header to give the home side a slender advantage going into the return leg.
Three days later Andrea Zanchetta and Francesco Cozza gave Reggina a decisive advantage, but an 86th minute strike by Michele Cossato was enough to ensure salvation for Verona and provide the fitting finale to Parks’ masterpiece.
It would be Laursen’s last game for the Gialloblu, but the great Dane would go on to win the championship, the European Cup, the Super Cup and the Coppa Italia with AC Milan, before becoming something of a cult hero at Aston Villa.
Of course, Verona’s greatest Danish legend needs no introduction. But, 40 years on from Elkjær’s legendary exploits in the 1984/85 season, and nearly 25 years after Laursen’s heroics, it’s surely now time for another Danish cult hero to emerge. Victor Nelsson might just be that man.
Richard Hough is the author of Verona Campione, the Miracle of 1985.
A detailed and well informed commentary on the need for Verona to do something dramatic to save the season.