Pragmatism, Personality, and a Very Swiss Logic

There is a particular rhythm to Chur’s recruitment this summer. It isn’t loud. It isn’t glamorous. But it is unmistakably deliberate. Four additions – some familiar, some foreign, some short-term, some symbolic – all pointing toward a squad being rounded rather than reinvented. We know that they are tested financially and still have a reputation that sits them well below the teams at this level, let alone the big boys; but part of that is due to their meteoric rise under Arriola. Below, a closer look at the four arrivals not asspreadsheet entries, but as footballers with context, contradictions, and consequence. Each image can be clicked to access a full player profile.

Daniele Palagi — The Versatile Defender

Palagi arrives from Zürich on a free, but do not let the absence of a transfer fee mislead you. Thirty-two Super League appearances last season tells its own story: this is a player trusted at the sharp end of the domestic game. At 22, Palagi already carries himself like an older professional. He is not flashy, and that is precisely the point. Comfortable as a left-sided full-back or tucked inside as a centre-back, he offers Chur something they have occasionally lacked: calm depth. His frame adds aerial assurance, particularly useful for a side that has sometimes been vulnerable when defending second phases. Technically, Palagi is functional rather than expressive. His passing is clean, his positioning disciplined, and his decision-making conservative – a player who understands risk and prefers to manage it rather than eliminate it entirely. This is not a signing that changes the system. It protects it.

Calanda Rating: 7.4 / 10
A sensible, future-facing acquisition who raises the floor of the squad immediately.

Swiss Pundit View — Marco Grünenfelder (SRF):

“Palagi won’t trend on social media, but coaches love players like this. He gives you tactical insurance.”

Social Pulse:

• “Free transfer, 30+ Super League games… how is this not good business?”
• “Another Zürich cast-off? Or another Zürich mistake?”
• “Depth wins seasons. Boring signings win trophies.”

Mischa Beeli — Coming Home, Slightly Older, Slightly Wiser

There is something inherently romantic about Beeli’s return to Chur, even if the footballing logic is colder. Born in the city, developed elsewhere – notably St. Gallen – and now back on a free from Zürich, this feels like a player arriving with unfinished business. At 32, Beeli is not here to develop. He is here to organise. Comfortable across the back line and capable of stepping into a holding midfield role, his versatility speaks to experience rather than experimentation. His reading of the game remains strong, even if the legs no longer cover ground the way they once did. What Beeli offers Chur is reliability in moments of disorder. He talks. He points. He slows games down when needed. In a squad that has added youth and energy, that presence matters more than raw athleticism.

Calanda Rating: 6.9 / 10
Not transformative, but emotionally and tactically grounding.

Swiss Pundit View — Claudia Niederberger (Blue Sport):

“Beeli understands this league. He understands this city. That counts for more than pace.”

Social Pulse:

• “Chur DNA signing. Love it.”
• “Great story, but can he still handle the tempo?”
• “Squad players win dressing rooms.”

Stefano Rotunno — The Loan That Might Matter Most

Rotunno is perhaps the most intriguing of the four. Born in Bern, shaped in the Hellas Verona academy, and coming off a full Serie B season at Pescara, this is a player whose career has always existed slightly between identities. Six goal contributions in 36 matches from a defensive midfield role hints at a player more expansive than his positioning suggests. Physically robust, tactically diligent, and mentally intense, Rotunno plays with the edge of someone who knows loans are auditions – not holidays. There is no obligation to buy. And yet, if this works, Chur may quietly regret that. He brings bite to the midfield, but also forward momentum. A screen when needed, a carrier when space opens. In a system that values structure, Rotunno’s discipline will be tested – and likely trusted.

Calanda Rating: 8.1 / 10
Short-term signing, long-term influence potential.

Swiss Pundit View — Luca Bernasconi (RSI):

“Rotunno plays like someone with something to prove. Those players often change seasons.”

Social Pulse:

• “Serie B loan? That’s serious.”
• “Why no buy option though?”
• “Midfield finally gets some steel.”

Antoniu Roca — Experience with Intent

Roca is the outlier. The one that makes you pause. Twenty La Liga appearances last season. Twenty-two the year before. A player who narrowly avoided relegation with Espanyol now arrives in Graubünden, not to rescue – but to refine. Roca’s value lies in his adaptability across attacking midfield roles, particularly as a wider right-sided option who holds width rather than cutting inside. In a squad where Monserrate naturally drifts onto his stronger left foot, Roca offers balance – positional, tactical, and psychological. This is not a development signing. This is a footballer who has lived inside high-pressure systems and understands spacing at elite tempo. Whether that translates seamlessly is the open question – but the intent is unmistakable.

Calanda Rating: 8.3 / 10
Experience that reshapes options rather than dominating headlines.

Swiss Pundit View — Jonas Keller (NZZ):

“This is a player who raises training standards as much as matchday quality.”

Social Pulse:

• “La Liga to Chur… wow.”
• “This feels ambitious.”
• “If he clicks, this could be massive.”