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The Volpi Rosse Menarini Team: A New Era for 2025-2026

The anticipation is palpable as the Volpi Rosse Menarini wheelchair basketball team prepares to embark on the 2025-2026 season. The recent unveiling of the team showcases a diverse lineup highlighting international talents that span various ages and experiences. This group is united by one common goal: to make a significant impact both in Italy and across Europe.

On November 25, 2025, the team was presented to the public following their season opening match, ready to compete in the prestigious FIPIC Serie A Championship and Eurocup 3 competitions. The challenges awaiting them are promising, with a schedule that is bound to test their skills and resilience.

This year, coaches will lead players from countries as varied as Spain, Finland, Sweden, France, Italy, and Brazil, showcasing the global nature of the Volpi Rosse Menarini team. Their journey in the Italian Championship is essential preparation for the Eurocup 3, which will take place in Amsterdam from March 12 to March 15, 2026.

Founded in 2005, Volpi Rosse Menarini has become a symbol of personal growth through sport. The team has consistently showcased the passion, talent, and determination of its athletes, making each game a powerful demonstration of inclusion. As the title sponsor, the Menarini Pharmaceutical Group has stood by them since 2011, embodying the core values of solidarity and sports ethics.

Lucia and Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, shareholders and members of the Menarini Board, express their sentiments: “It feels as if we are communicating vessels; Volpi Rosse Menarini and our group share the same values we believe in every day.” They highlight the team's remarkable perseverance, crucial for continuous improvement and maintaining an optimistic outlook for the future.

Yet, the mission of Volpi Rosse Menarini extends beyond the court. They are committed to promoting inclusion and awareness projects in schools across Florence, Italy. The Menarini Group’s support also stretches internationally; they sponsor Menarini Joventut, a Spanish wheelchair basketball team in Badalona, which aims to foster an attentive and inclusive community.

Initially formed as an organization to advance social initiatives, Volpi Rosse Menarini transitioned to an ASD (Social Sports Association) in 2011, the same year that Menarini began their sponsorship. Athletically, the team has achieved notable successes. They finished third in the Italian U22 championship and clinched the UISP Italian Championship title in the 2017/18 season. The momentum continued as they secured the second position in the U22 championship and won an international tournament in Kavala, Greece in subsequent seasons.

After facing pandemic interruptions, the team triumphed in the 2020/21 U22 and Serie-B championships, ascending to the first league. In the following seasons, they solidified their standing in Serie A, placing eighth in 2021/22, sixth in 2022/23, and winning the Eurocup 3 in France. The 2023/24 season showed consistent performance with a fifth-place finish in Serie A and second place in the Eurocup 3 in Spain. In the latest season (2024/25), they again finished fifth in Serie A, reaffirming their competitive edge in the sport.

The Menarini Pharmaceutical Group, headquartered in Florence, operates with a consolidated revenue of €4.603 billion and employs over 17,000 staff in 140 countries. The company boasts nine research and development centers, with products addressing critical health issues in cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, pneumonia, infectious diseases, diabetes, and anti-inflammatory/analgesic areas. Menarini produces pharmaceutical products in 18 facilities across Italy and abroad, generating over 609 million packs annually for distribution across five continents, thereby making significant contributions to global health.

For more information, visit Menarini.