Crotone midfielder Ahmad Benali spoke exclusively to Football Italia's Ramez Nathan about his time in Italy and how it all started with Joe Hart in Manchester.

With the relegation battle intense on who will join Benevento in Serie B next season, one team is hoping to replicate their last great escape: Crotone.

The Pitagorici performed a miracle by staying in Serie A on the final day of their debut campaign and we spoke to their star midfielder on how they are fighting to stay in the top flight another season.

Pescara ultras threatened members of Bari staff with a baseball bat and left a dead rooster on the gates of Coach Fabio Grosso’s family.

The completely unacceptable incidents occurred before and after today’s 2-2 Serie B draw at the Stadio Adriatico.

The two clubs are bitter rivals and the intensity was stepped up because Bari Coach Grosso, a 2006 World Cup winner, is from the Pescara area.

In a moment that now feels tragically prescient, Davide Astori called for games to be suspended after the sudden death of a colleague.

Astori died in his sleep last night in the Fiorentina team hotel while preparing for a Serie A match against Udinese.

The Viola captain was 31 years old and an Italy international.

Serie B club Pescara confirm they have parted company with Coach Zdenek Zeman.

The Delfini were beaten 2-0 by Cittadella yesterday, a result which left them in 13^th place in Italy’s second tier.

Rumours began circulating last night that Zeman had been relieved of his duties, with the club officially confirming the sacking in a statement via their website this morning.

“La Delfino Pescara 1936 communicates that it has relieved first team Coach Zdenek Zeman and his technical staff of their duties,” it reads.

As expected, Udinese have officially signed versatile full-back Francesco Zampano from Pescara.

The 24-year-old already spent time at Sampdoria, Virtua Entella and Juve Stabia in his career.

He completed the transfer for the Dacia Arena on contract to the end of the season.

“This is a signing that immediately adds another option for Coach Massimo Oddo in this second half of the campaign,” director general Franco Collavino told the official club website.

Udinese will sign Francesco Zampano on loan from Pescara with option to buy for €2m, as his medical is tomorrow.

Sportitalia and Sky Sport Italia both report with confidence that the deal has been agreed.

The 24-year-old right-back spent time at Sampdoria, Virtus Entella, Verona and Juve Stabia before joining Pescara in 2014.

So far this season, Zampano has provided six assists in 13 games for Pescara between Serie B and the Coppa Italia.

Ahmad Benali has completed his transfer from Pescara to Crotone. “I can’t wait to get on the field with the Crotone jersey!”

The England-born midfielder put pen to paper on the contract this afternoon.

It’s a loan move with option to buy for a reported total €2m.

“I am fired up for this new challenge, thank you to Pescara for the two years we have spent together,” wrote Benali on Twitter.

“Now I can’t wait to get on the field with the Crotone jersey!”

Ahmad Benali is expected to join Crotone on loan from Pescara with option to buy for a total of €2m.

The creative midfielder turns 26 next month and is currently out of action after surgery on a fractured bone in his hand.

Benali was born in England and came up through the Manchester City youth academy.

He has been in Italy since 2012 for Brescia, Palermo and Pescara.

According to Sportitalia, Crotone are close to securing his arrival on loan for €300,000 with option to buy for around €1.7m.

Crotone are on the verge of securing Pescara attacking midfielder Ahmad Benali.

According to Gazzamercato, the two clubs are very close to finalising a deal in the January transfer window.

Benali turns 26 next month and was born in Manchester, so played for City until moving to Brescia in 2012.

He has since played for Palermo and Pescara, where this season he has contributed five goals and two assists in just 16 competitive games.