Southampton’s Gabbiadini returns to Sampdoria

Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini has completed a permanent move to his former club Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on their website on Friday.

The 27-year-old Italian, who joined Saints in January, 2017 from Napoli for a reported 14mn pounds ($18mn), has returned to seventh-placed Samp, where he played from 2013-15, to help the Serie A side qualify for Europe. Gabbiadini scored 12 goals in 60 games for Southampton, including two in the 3-2 League Cup final defeat by Manchester United in 2017. He also got the winner at Swansea City last season, which effectively ensured Saints’ top-flight status. However, he has only scored once in 15 games this season.