The 2012-13 campaign delivered a solid return to the top flight for Sampdoria as the Blucerchiati secured a respectable 14th-place finish in Serie A following their promotion. Leading the charge and announcing himself to the world was the young, sensational striker Mauro Icardi, whose 10 goals proved decisive in a campaign built on the excitement of his explosive emergence and the club's determined fight for survival. It was a vital year that marked Sampdoria's successful consolidation back in the Italian elite and remains a defining chapter for launching the career of a future star.