Football Season Guide

After 5 years full of promises, as they invested loads of cash, but far from successful, up to the point that they even had to be fighting against relegation, the return of coach Gasperini at the helm of the team in the past campaign allowed Genoa to make it back to the top standings of the Serie A. In fact, they even managed qualifying to the Europa League but, having been denied a UEFA license, they could not participate to the competition. The outstanding quality of the football played made it possible for several players to call for the attention from bigger clubs. Thus, the likes of Bertolacci, Iago Falque, Edenilson and Niang all ended up leaving during the summer, either returning to their parent clubs or being sold for some money. Unlike the previous transfer campaigns, this time around President Preziosi did not loosen up the purse strings and Gasperini will have to build his team with a bunch of youths returning from previous loans, loanees and free agents. Among them, Munoz, Cissokho and Pandev undoubtedly seem to be the most remarkable signings. And they might all end up earning themselves a starting place in the new Genoa. With Perin fully confirmed in goals and penalty-saving Lamanna as his replacement, De Maio, Burdisso and Munoz should be acting in the back three, while Izzo should be given always more playing time. Costa, Rincon, Tachtsidis and Kucka should be rotating in the middle of the park with Cissokho, Marchese and Figueiras on the flanks. The forward three should see Pandev, returning to the Italian football after a forgettable experience in Turkey, Pavoletti, at last becoming a protagonist following his impressive end of the past season, and Perotti, provided he does reach an agreement with the club, cause havoc in the opponents’ defences, with Lazovic and Gakpé as their alternatives. They are still looking for someone to complete the attack, though.