Unione Calcio Sampdoria had a decent season, in which it troubled the top three in the Serie A, and at half season even threatening to overhaul Juventus's league title, before losing its form during the spring.

During December, Sven-Göran Eriksson agreed to be the new Blackburn Rovers head coach for the next season, however, in February the Swedish manager announced a move to Lazio, and in July 1997 brought both Roberto Mancini and Siniša Mihajlović with him.

With playmaker Clarence Seedorf departing for Real Madrid, Sampdoria was once again in a predicament.

The Argentinian was a genuine sensation in his first European season, and stayed on for another year.

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