Sunderland have started making enquiries with Mariano Troilo’s camp about a summer deal, joining the chase for the 22-year-old Parma centre-back. The Black Cats’ interest arrives at a moment when the Argentine has genuinely earned the attention, and the timing shows just how quickly his reputation has grown during a single Serie A season.
Sunderland make their move for Parma’s quietly impressive Argentine
Troilo joined Parma on a five-year contract in August 2025 for over €7 million, making him one of the most expensive sales in Belgrano’s history, with a 20% sell-on clause included in the deal. He did not hit the ground running, and many observers wrote him off as a typical case of a South American player needing a long time to adjust.
Since January, however, Troilo has started 15 games in 2026 alone and scored a big goal against Milan in March, while also holding his own in back-to-back starts against Inter and Napoli. That is not an easy run of fixtures. Troilo has replaced Giovanni Leoni in the starting eleven and kept his spot convincingly, which points to genuine improvement rather than luck.
ParmaToday praised his attitude and work ethic, and a physical scrap with Nicolò Barella showed he won’t be bullied, a quality that quickly wins over teammates and fans alike. His market value now sits around €9.7 million, reflecting his recent rise. Parma, though, are in no rush to sell and will only let him go for a significant offer.
As a player, Troilo offers a real aerial presence, is comfortable on both feet, and plays with the intensity of a man hungry to prove himself. His weakness, so far, is limited experience against teams that press high for 90 minutes, and his positioning under pressure still needs work at the highest level.
Does Troilo actually fill the right gap for Sunderland in 2026/27?
Sunderland‘s backline has been solid throughout the Premier League campaign but has lacked the depth and energy needed to finish higher up the table, which Le Bris will want to fix this summer. Troilo is an interesting option, but not a straightforward one. Sunderland already have Dan Ballard, Nordi Mukiele, and Omar Alderete at the back, though Alderete is rumoured to be leaving at the end of the season.
That exit would create a clear hole in the squad. Troilo’s aggression, strength in the air, and recent form fit Sunderland’s model of buying young, hungry players before their price tags explode. However, spending big money on a centre-back who is still finding his feet in Serie A is a gamble for a club pushing for Europe in 2026/27. Sunderland need proven quality right now, not potential that might take another year to settle.
