Football Season Guide

Serie A

Italy

Serie A

2018/2019

Genoa

In

Domenico Criscito (def)(Zenit); Cristian Romero (def)(Belgrano); Koray Gunter (def)(Galatasaray); Federico Marchetti (gk)(free agent); Rok Vodisek (gk)(Olimpia Ljubjiana); Ivan Lakicevic (def)(Vojvodina); Krzystzof Piatek (att)(Cracovia Krakow); Lorenzo Callegari (mid)(Paris Saint Germain); Sandro (mid)(Benevento); Andrei Radu (gk)(Avellino via Inter); Federico Valietti (def)(Inter); Nikola Ninkovic (att)(Empoli, end of loan); Leonardo Morosini (mid)(Avellino, end of loan); Raul Asencio (att)(Avellino, end of loan); Riccardo Fiamozzi (def)(Pescara, end of loan); Davide Brivio (def)( Virtus Entella, end of loan); Petar Brlek (mid)(Wisla Cracovia, end of loan); Serge Gakpé (att)(Amiens, end of loan); Luca Mazzitelli (mid)(Sassuolo, on loan); Simeoni (att)(Venezia); Romulo (def)(Hellas Verona); Christian Kouame (att)(Cittadella); Claudio Spinelli (att)(Tigre); Andrea Favilli (att)(Juventus); Esteban Rolon (mid)(Malaga, on loan); Lisandro Lopez (def)(Benfica, on loan); Leon Petrovic (att)(SPAL).

Out

Mattia Perin (k)(gk)(Juventus); Armando Izzo (r)(def)(Torino); Andrea Bertolacci (r)(mid)(Milan, end of loan); Riccardo Improta (mid)(Benevento); Miguel Veloso (r)(mid)(released); Isaac Cofie (mid)(released); Adel Taarabt (r)(mid)(Benfica,end of loan); David Milinkovic (mid)(Hull City); Paolo Ghiglione (mid)(Frosinone, on loan); Luca Rigoni (r)(mid)(Parma); Eddy Salcedo (att)(Inter); Giuseppe Rossi (att)(released); Davide Brivio (def)(released); Aleandro Rosi (r)(def)(released); Santiago Gentiletti (def)(released); Eugenio Lamanna (gk)(Spezia); Petar Brlek (mid)(Lugano, on loan); Thomas Rodriguez (mid)(Union La Calera, on loan); Luca Rossettini (sp)(def)(Chievo Verona, on loan); Diego Laxalt (r)(mid)(Milan); Andrey Galabinov (r)(att)(Spezia); Nikola Ninkovic (mid)(Ascoli); Yawad El Yamiq (def)(Perugia, on loan); Luca Zanimacchia (att)(Juventus U23, on loan).

New season, old habits for Genoa, who underwent the umpteenth revolution during the summer. Having obtained a mere 12th place finish in the past Serie A campaign, the ambitious President Preziosi opted for another major overhaul in all the departments. However, quite ironically, this revolution started with a confirmation. In fact, coach Davide Ballardini was given the reigns of the team also for the new season after leading the side to salvation in the past campaign, following Ivan Juric’s sacking. This came as a bit pf a surprise as he had already led the Vecchio Grifone to safe heavens in two different occasions and he had been released both times. While the coach remains, Mattia Perin, one of the best goalies around, left for Juventus and plenty of money. Together with him, several more regulars departed: Armando Izzo, a valid centre-back, also left for Turin, Torino side, though; Andrea Bertolacci, a protagonist in the midfield, was let go back to his parent club, Milan; Adel Taarabt also returned to Benfica while the likes of Luca Rigoni, Miguel Veloso and Aleandro Rosi were all let go after forgettable performances in the past campaign. Perin was replaced by Federico Marchetti, who was certainly excellent in his best days but spent the whole past season on the stands, being at odds with Lazio. Domenico Criscito returns there where he started after several seasons spent in Russia, at Zenit, and he should become a leader in the heart of the defence. Romulo, one of the few ones to get positive reviews from the past Hellas Verona campaign, will be acting at right-back in a back 4 or on the right flank in a 3-5-2 formation. Sandro, who offered some great performances at Benevento, despite sailing on a sinking ship, will be given the keys of the midfield while Luca Mazzitelli, on loan from Sassuolo, and the prospect Lorenzo Callegari, from Paris Saint Germain, should find some relevant playing time, with the passing of weeks. In the attack, Andrea Favilli should be arriving from Juventus while Gianluca Lapadula might be on the departure list. Claudio Spinelli, Christian Kouame and Krzystzof Piatek also arrived over the summer but, just like Favilli, they all have no Serie A experience and they might need some time before getting going.

Target

Genoa are a solid team, in the hands of a capable coach. If President Preziosi and Ballardini do not come at odds during the season and with one more addition for each department, they could really find themselves making it back to the top 10 of the league.