Christ Inao Oulai struggles for playing time at Fiorentina

Fiorentina midfielder Christ Inao Oulai is facing limited playing time under manager Paolo Vanoli. Despite being a high-profile signing from the summer—costing the club 25 million euros plus bonuses—the 20-year-old Ivorian has struggled to break into the starting lineup, appearing primarily as a substitute or in Coppa Italia matches.

On the international stage, Oulai recently saw limited action with the Ivory Coast national team. During a recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ghana, he entered the game in the 72nd minute while his team was already leading 2-0. Former Fiorentina target Franck Kessie scored the second goal in that match.

Tactically, Vanoli has favored the midfield pairing of Fagioli and Ndour. However, there is potential for Oulai to feature in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would task him with ball recovery and maintaining balance to allow more technical players to attack spaces. To secure a regular role, Oulai must adapt to the physical demands of Italian football and improve his ball retention in high-risk areas.