President Ferrero pops in for visit on Thursday. Quagliarella still training separately

With just three days to go till Sampdoria kick off their 2017/18 Serie A campaign at home to Benevento, president Massimo Ferrero popped into the training ground on Thursday to pay the team a visit.

After saying hello to Marco Giampaolo, the coaching staff and the players, the Blucerchiati chief watched the squad train on the top pitch in Bogliasco as Giampaolo had them carry out a series of tactical drills with Sunday’s opponents in mind.

Maxime Leverbe, Fabio Quagliarella and Andrea Tozzo trained separately while Emiliano Viviano and Patrik Schick continued with their personalised programmes.

Dodo Pires, who sustained a distal radius fracture in training on Wednesday, rested today after being discharged from hospital this morning.