Mbangula joined Bologna from Werder Bremen on loan during the summer, with the Italian club holding an option to make the transfer permanent. His move came after a difficult first season in Germany, where he scored three goals and provided four assists in 27 competitive appearances.
Werder Bremen’s head of professional football, Clemens Fritz, believes the change of coach has made Mbangula’s situation more complicated but says the 22-year-old must respond by competing for opportunities.
“It is unfortunate when a player comes to a new club and suddenly the coach changes. Sam is now required to fight his way through and get as much playing time there as possible,” Fritz told Bild.
Mbangula arrived in Bologna at the end of the summer window and initially featured from the bench. Raffaele Palladino replaced Vincenzo Italiano on September 16, meaning the Belgian has had to adapt to another change in tactical demands shortly after changing clubs.
The winger’s first season at Werder was mixed, but the German club still agreed to send him to Bologna with a route to a permanent transfer. Werder had signed him from Juventus in 2025 for €10 million.
Bologna confirmed that the loan runs until June 2027 and includes an option to make the move permanent. The Italian club see Mbangula as an attacking player capable of operating on the wing, where his pace and one-on-one ability can provide an alternative in the final third.
His opportunities have so far been limited. Mbangula made brief appearances against Sassuolo and Napoli before remaining an unused substitute against Torino.
That lack of minutes is precisely what Fritz wants him to address. The former Juventus player now has to convince Palladino that he can contribute regularly enough to earn a more substantial role.
For Werder, the situation will be followed closely because Mbangula’s development remains relevant to the club’s longer-term decision over his future.
The Belgian has already experienced several changes since leaving Juventus, and another successful period in Italy would give him the chance to establish himself after an uneven first year in Germany.
The message from Bremen is therefore clear: Mbangula has been given another opportunity, but he must turn it into regular football.
The coming weeks should show whether that competition produces the sustained run of appearances Werder want to see.