Bulgarian international Iliya Petkov will continue his career in the Italian SuperLega, as from next season he will don the Vero Volley Monza jersey, volleyweek.bg learned.
The middle blocker arrives after a season with Grottazzolina, where he recorded 76 points in 20 matches (1.36 per set), missing two games at the end of the championship due to a calf injury. Despite this, he left a strong impression and logically receives an opportunity to take a step forward.
Meanwhile, one of the Bulgarians in Monza – Martin Atanasov – has already left the team and continued his career in Indonesia. Thus, in the new season, the team will once again have Bulgarian presence, with a new 'Bulgarian tandem' emerging.
According to our information, Monza will undergo a serious reconstruction. The team is parting ways with Luca Martila, who is already playing in Turkey, as well as with Erik Röhrs and setter Jan Zimmermann. Middle blocker Leandro Mosca is also leaving and will continue his career in Cuneo – it is precisely the vacated middle blocker spot that opens the door for the signing of Iliya Petkov.
The situation surrounding Slovenian international Nik Mujanović is also interesting. Despite reports, he will not return to Monza, but is expected to move to Modena. However, this does not rule out a new clash with Bulgarian talent Simeon Nikolov, as in the event of the setter's potential transfer to Lube, the two will meet in the Italian championship. We remind you that Mujanović already played against Levski Sofia in the European Challenge Cup, when Nikolov was part of the 'Blues' squad.
In the opposite direction – from Modena to Monza – outside hitter Jacopo Massari is expected to move, well-known to the Bulgarian public from his time with Hebar Pazardzhik and under Alberto Giuliani, Modena's current coach.
Thus, Monza's outside hitter line-up is shaping up around Jasmin Veličkov, Jacopo Massari, and Diego Frascio – who is primarily an opposite hitter, but the coaching staff's plan is for him to strengthen the team in this position.
A change is also being prepared at the setter position, with the expected signing of a player from the US collegiate championship – UCLA. Interestingly, Simeon Nikolov and Long Beach played a final against this team last season, which ended in a victory for the Bulgarian's team, making them champions.
With these moves, Monza is taking shape as a team in transition, but also with a clear vision – and at the center of the new project will be Bulgarian international Iliya Petkov.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov