Category: Transfers

Since the end of last season, especially after the derby, the rumors about the end of Eduardo as goalkeeper of Genoa went on and on. Since Eduardo was rent to Benfica we had to wait for our new goalkeeper. Mr. Malesani wanted Emiliano Viviano his goalkeeper with Bologna last season and the substitute of Buffon in the Italian National team. Unfortunately last weekend Viviano was injured very badly (recovering-time around 5 months) which meant that Genoa had to look for another goalkeeper. Today Mr. Preziosi gave us a new goalkeeper: the very experienced 31 years old French goalkeeper of Fiorentina: Sebastien Frey. About this goalkeeper nobody has any doubts and he played for years with our central defender Dario Dainelli.

Today our Genoano of the year 2007-2008 Omar Milanetto left Genoa to the other team of President Preziosi: Lugano (Switzerland). After the goal in the last seconds of the derby by Mauro Boselli last 8th May several Genoa-players like Rossi, Criscito and Milanetto (see foto) went to Gradinata Nord to blame them for the song: “Il derby non si regala” (the derby is not a present). The fans thought that Genoa and Sampdoria made a deal to draw the derby, which should give an important point to Sampdoria in their struggle to stay in Serie A. Genoa-fans only had one wish: Sampdoria had to relegate to Serie B, so Genoa more than ever had to win the derby. After the goal of Boselli at 96’11” Milanetto should have screamed “Bastardi” (Basterds) to the fans in Gradinata Nord, who were furious. A few days after the derby Milanetto made excuses to the fans, but some of them did not accept this. For these fans Milanetto has made an unforgettable mistake and he has to leave the club. Today these fans got what they wanted: Omar Milanetto ends his career after 5 great season in Liguria with Lugano FC in the Serie B of Switzerland.

Tonight Omar Milanetto played his last 30 minutes with Genoa in Austria in the friendly match against Stubaital. The score at halftime was 2-0 (Kucka and Pratto) and with double scores of Ribas and Birsa in the 2nd half the match ended in a 6-0 victory of Genoa that played in the offensive 4-3-3 system.

Today Genoa starts the season in Austria with our new trainer Alberto Malesani and the following 26 players, including 15 new arrivals:

Goalkeepers: Lupatelli Cristiano (1978, Bologna Fc), Scarpi Alessio (1973, Genoa), Zima Lukas (1994, Sk Slavia Praga).

Defenders: Antonelli Luca (1987, Genoa), Dainelli Dario (1979, Genoa), Granqvist Andreas (1985, Fc Groningen), Kaladze Kakhaber (1978, Genoa), Krajnc Luka (1994, Maribor), Mesto Giandomenico (1982, Genoa), Moretti Emiliano (1981, Genoa).

Midfielders: Birsa Valter (1986, Aj Auxerre), Constant Kevin (1987, Ac Chievo Verona),Jorquera Cristobal Andres (1988, Csd Colo Colo), Kucka Juraj (1987, Genoa), Merkel Alexander (1982, Ac Milan), Milanetto Omar (1975, Genoa), Rossi Marco (1978, Genoa), Seymour Felipe (1987, Club Universidad de Chile), Veloso Miguel (1986, Genoa).

Strikers: Acquafresca Robert (1987, Cagliari Calcio), Hallenius Linus (1989, Fc Lugano),Palacio Rodrigo (1982, Genoa), Pratto Lucas (1988, Cd Universidad Catolica), Ribas Sebastiàn (1988, Dijon Fco), Rudolf Gergely (1985, As Bari), Zè Eduardo Josè (1987, Santos Fc).

Besides these 15 new players Genoa also bought Andes Escobar (Deportivo Cali, Colombia) but he now plays the World-Cup for players till 20 years. This week also Ajax-player Evander Sno was in Genova to sign a contract with our team, but he did not pass the medial tests because of his hart-problems.

The following 14 players left us this summer: Eduardo (Benfica), Perin (Padova), Chico (probably Betis Sevilla), Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Konko (Lazio), Rafinha (Bayern Munich), Boakye (Sassuolo), Boselli (Wigan), Destro (Siena), Floro Flores (Udinese), Jankovic (not known yet), Jelenic (Padova), Paloschi (Milan) and Rodriguez (Bologna).

Today Genoa bought the 26 year old and 1.92 tall defender Andreas Granqvist of FC Groningen. The Swedish defender signed a 4 years contract and was also wanted by Glasgow Rangers and Galatasaray.

This afternoon our President Mr. Enrico Preziosi gave an emotional press-conference. He admitted that he made some mistakes with the transfers last summer (Toni, Zuculini, Eduardo), but the critics of the journalists and a little part of the fans of Genoa against him and his family are too heavy at the moment. If things don’t turn into a normal situation Preziosi threathed that he will sell Genoa at the end of this season.

At the end of the conference Preziosi officialized the departure of Giuseppe (Beppe) Sculli towards Lazio today. Our striker is immediately substituted by Antonio Floro Flores (Udinese) who already trained with Genoa this afternoon. Next Thursday also our ex-midfieldplayer Abdoulay Konko returns from Sevillia to Genoa. In the summer of 2008 Konko was sold for € 9 million to Sevillia, now after 2 1/2 years he returns with Genoa and Preziosi has to pay only € 6 million back now. Another financially good deal!

With a delay of 24 hours because of his injury Genoa decided at the end to hire Mauro Boselli the rest of the season of Wigan. In July Genoa can buy the striker who won 2 times the Coppa Libertadores (South American Champions League) from which he was also topscorer with 8 goals. The price is already fixed on € 7 million. Because of the injury we have to wait till the end of the month (derby ?!) before Mauro can play his first match with Genoa. In the meanwhile Gergely Rudolf is rented to Bari for the rest of the season to have more playtime in Serie A and return more experienced next season. 

Today was also the official presentation of Luca Antonelli (Parma ) and Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague). The Slovacchian already played yesterday with Genoa in San Siro against Inter. Antonelli is injured and can probably play at the end of January (like Boselli).

The first match of Genoa in 2011 ended in a goalless draw, which was the most right result. Genoa started the match with Bosko Jankovic in the line-up and Kaka Kaladze to substitute Andrea Ranocchia in our defence. In the first half runner-up Lazio was the best team in the field, but Eduardo kept his goal clean. In the second half Genoa played more offensive and created the best chances, but Toni, Rossi and Kaladze missed them. On the other hand Lazio was most close to open the score when Hernanes hit the post in the 60th minute. With this result Genoa stays on the 10th place in the standings, while we played 1 match less because of the posponed derby.

Since President Preziosi gave Luca Toni a 3 on a base of 1 tot 10 in an interview the rumours said that our most earning player (€ 4 million a year) wanted to leave our club. Yesterday against Lazio also a part of the Genoa-supporters whistled at the moment Toni touched the ball, because they expected Toni to admit his disappointing way of playing instead of immediately saying that he would leave Genoa. Of course a President must never criticize a single player in the newspapers, but also a player must not immediately react by saying that he wants to leave the club after some critics, especially if you don’t play very good and you earn an enormous salary. Luca Toni today singed a 18 months contract with Juventus. Genoa did not even ask a transfersum, in 18 months the club saves € 6 million salary which is enough to Mr. Preziosi. The substitute probably will be the Argentinian striker Mauro Boselli of Wigan (England), the former teammate of Rodrigo Palacio with Boca Juniors.

Mr. Ballardini has selected 21 players to book the first victory in 2011 tomorrowafternoon at 15.00 hours in Luigi Ferraris against runner-up Lazio. Inbetween the selection are Enjec Jelenic (Koper) and youngster Sturaro (Genoa-primavera). The complete team that is now preparing in the Sheraton-hotel to play against Lazio:

GOALKEEPERS: 1 Eduardo, 88 Perin, 73 Scarpi

DEFENDERS: 2 Chico, 3 Dainelli, 13 Kaladze, 20 Mesto, 24 Moretti, 4 Criscito

MIDFIELDERS: 11 Kharja, 77 Milanetto, 18 Rafinha, 7 Rossi, 30 Sturaro, 42 Veloso

STRIKERS: 25 Boakye, 22 Destro, 71 Jankovic, 29 Jelenic, 17 Rudolf, 9 Toni

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Last night Mr. Fabrizio Preziosi has bought the strong 23 years old midfieldplayer of Sparta Prague: Juraj Kucka. The international of Slovakia played at the World-cup last summer against Italy and Holland. Rumours say that also the brother of Diego Milito: defender Gabriël Milito will arrive from Barcelona to substitute Andrea Ranocchia.