Francesco Zoppellari is on the verge of a transfer to Cucine Lube Civitanova, expected to strengthen the setter position for the team from the Marche region next season.
This is reported by the Italian websiteivolleymagazine.it, which adds that the 28-year-old playmaker from Padua will partner with Simeon Nikolov – a sign that the Bulgarian international is now part of the club's concrete plans and in the public discourse of Italian media.
Until now, Nikolov's name was mostly unofficial information, but his inclusion in such a context by an authoritative source is a clear indicator that his transfer to Lube is in an advanced stage. In Bulgaria, this development has been known for nearly two months, when we reported that Moni was leaving Russia for Lube, but only now is it starting to receive external confirmation.
Zoppellari himself brings extensive experience – 277 matches in the Italian championships (168 in the top division), as well as accolades like the Italian Supercup 2024 and the Champions League 2025 with Perugia. A profile that suggests Civitanova is looking for stability and depth in a key position, around which the young Bulgarian setter can develop.
Thus, the bigger picture is gradually forming – a project in which Lube will heavily rely on Bulgarian presence. Simeon Nikolov is expected to play a leading role in organizing the game, in combination with the already established team member Aleksandar Nikolov.
It is characteristic that Italian media are starting to "warm up" to the topic precisely at this stage of the season, when the outlines of the new squads are taking shape. In this case, however, it is not a surprise, but rather a logical confirmation of a process that has long been developing behind the scenes.