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Fiorentina Retires No. 10 for Centenary as Antognoni Declines Invitation

Intended as a reconciliation gesture after a 2021 split with Antognoni, the move comes as Fiorentina pushes a summer rebuild that includes Real Madrid loanee Franco Mastantuono.

Overview

  • The club announced on August 4 that it will retire the number 10 shirt for the 2026/27 season to honour Giancarlo Antognoni, meaning no player will wear the iconic number during the Centenary year.
  • Antognoni has so far refused the public invitation to join the 29 August Centenary events, and his son Alessandro published an open letter criticizing the club's gesture as inadequate.
  • Giuseppe B. Commisso said he and his mother will attend the Centenary, but the retirement has not repaired a rift that began in 2021 when Antognoni rejected a proposed youth‑sector role he viewed as a demotion.
  • Fiorentina confirmed the loan signing of Franco Mastantuono from Real Madrid and the 19‑year‑old arrived in Florence to strong fan receptions at Peretola airport and Viola Park.
  • The decision forces current No. 10 Albert Gudmundsson to choose a different squad number and creates a PR test for the club ahead of the Centenary that could shape how fans and former players view the celebration.