During the close season, Parma signed Hristo Stoichkov for £6.5 million from Barcelona as Brolin tried to get back to full fitness for the start of the 1995–96 season. Despite scoring in the Parmalat Cup against the United States (2–1) and Boca Juniors (3–1), and participating in a friendly against Anderlecht (1–0) during the club's pre-season, the coach felt that Brolin lacked the appropriate level of fitness to continue playing in the central midfield position.