"After thinking about it" - Charlton Athletic claim made about Paolo Di Canio | OneFootball

FLW's Charlton Athletic fan pundit has identified one masterstroke signing the club made

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Charlton Athletic are in the mix for promotion to the Championship this season.

Excitement is growing around the London outfit, with Nathan Jones’ side pushing for a return to the second tier for the first time since 2020.

One eye will already be on the summer transfer window and what improvement can be made to the team, regardless of their league status for next year.

There have been plenty of highs and lows for Charlton in the transfer market, with supporters more used to the latter instead of the former in recent years.

Paolo Di Canio masterstroke claim made at Charlton Athletic

When asked which one signing for the club proved a total masterstroke, FLW’s Charlton fan pundit Emma Harknett named Paolo Di Canio.

She claimed that the Italian was the most exciting player she’s ever seen at the Valley, and that the leadership he brought to the club was inspirational during the 2003/04 season.

“After thinking about it, there was really only one person who I could say, and that’s got to be Paolo Di Canio,” Harknett told Football League World.

“Obviously we signed him for free when he probably could’ve signed anywhere. I know Man United and Alex Ferguson were looking at signing him in the 2001/02 season.

“But Alan Curbishley signed him for free in the 2003/04 season. He played 31 games for us, four goals, which were all penalties.

“But the way he inspired the team, the passion he brought to the team, and having younger players in the squad at that time, having such a leader and an inspiration.

“He was just so exciting to watch, and the fact that we had this unbelievable player that could’ve been playing at a much higher level and a much higher team and squad than what we had at the time, and he chose to come to us above other teams.

“We only had him for that season, but what an unbelievable player, and obviously he helped us to our highest league finish since 1953. We finished seventh that season.

“Losing Scott Parker buggered us up a bit to get a European place. We finished seventh.

“But I’ll never forget that season and watching him. It was just such an exciting time as a fan to be at the Valley.

“What a player.

“He was only with us one season, and he left us to go home to Lazio, but I’ll be forever thankful that I got to watch him and watching him in the Premier League with us was really exciting times.”

Di Canio made 31 league appearances as Charlton finished seventh in the Premier League in 2004, with the now 56-year-old contributing four goals and 12 assists in the top flight.

Di Canio’s impact was short-lived but significant

Charlton had come 14th and 12th in the two previous Premier League campaigns prior to Di Canio signing.

He made an immediate impact on the side and got his first assist in just his fourth appearance for the London club.

While he was only at the club one season, it’s clear that he left a remarkable impression on supporters.