Thijs Dallinga, Bologna's Dutch forward, scored in the rossoblù's 2-0 pre-season victory against Iraklis on July 26, with winger Rowe also on the scoresheet. It was Bologna's first win of the summer under new head coach Tedesco — a clean, purposeful result that offered a sharper picture of the club's direction than the transfer noise surrounding it.
The win matters because Dallinga's position at Bologna is no longer as settled as it appeared twelve months ago. The club is in advanced discussions to sell centre-forward Santiago Castro to Roma, with reports indicating Artem Dovbyk or another Roma forward could move in the opposite direction. If Castro departs, Dallinga's role shifts from rotation option to something closer to a first-choice responsibility — a promotion that his 2025-26 numbers suggest he has not yet fully earned, but one that pre-season form could begin to justify.
The numbers from last season are honest rather than flattering. In 22 Serie A appearances, Dallinga contributed two goals and two assists, carrying an average rating of 6.50. An AI overall score of 56 out of 100, with a potential ceiling of 68, frames him as a player with room to grow rather than one who has arrived. Bologna finished eighth with 55 points — a mid-table season that neither rewarded nor punished its attackers with particular clarity.
What pre-season offers is a reset of context. A goal against Iraklis carries no competitive weight, but the timing is not irrelevant. With Castro's future unresolved and Bologna still assembling their squad — the club also moved to sign Argentinian midfielder Mikel Amondarain — Dallinga is auditioning for a larger share of the attacking burden. The previous draw against Heidenheim suggested the squad was still finding its shape; the Iraklis result, however modest in opposition, showed something more cohesive.
Whether Tedesco's Bologna builds its attack around Dallinga or uses him as a complement to an incoming striker will define his 2026-27 season. The potential is documented. The consistency has not been.