Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has expressed his disappointment at not being able to sign the two players he wanted most this winter -- Alberto Aquilani and Marko Arnautovic.
Andrea Ranocchia, Jacopo Sala and Fabio Quagliarella joined the Blucerchiati with Eder, Vasco Regini and Ervin Zukanovic leaving.
While Ferrero said that his coach Vincenzo Montella was largely satisfied with January's ins and outs, he nevertheless regretted not being able to get his top two targets.
His move for Stoke City's Arnautovic ultimately came too late as he looked to deliver a surprise last-minute coup.
"Not being able to sign Arnautovic [is my main regret]," Ferrero told Tuttosport. "He's a striker I have always liked and I would have signed him. I wanted him, but he didn't feel like it and we were a bit late by then. That could have been my dramatic twist in the plot. I tried, but it didn't work out, which is a shame."
Missing out on Aquilani also disappointed Ferrero -- and the player -- but he says he did all he could to sign the former Liverpool midfielder.
"It was all a big misunderstanding with Aquilani," Ferrero said. "The player wanted to come here, but Sporting Lisbon's president had a last-minute rethink and that's why the deal didn't go through.
"Aquilani's very upset about it all and so are we. But life goes on.
"Vincenzo had asked us for certain players and we tried to satisfy him. Personally I did all I could to be able to give him who he wanted. Each coach has his own system and his own view of the game and you've got to give to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's
"Our priority is motivation -- the only players we want to come to Sampdoria are those who are very motivated. Only Eder has left and my coach is happy."
Sampdoria managed to keep hold of coveted midfielder Roberto Soriano for the second straight transfer window in which he was expected to leave.
"Everybody wants him because he's a great player, but I'm keeping a tight hold on him," Ferrero added. "It was no sacrifice for us to keep hold of him."