With Genoa officially over the cliched threshold of 40-points and officially safe for another Serie A season, attention can be turned to the next mercato in the anticipation for next season.
Of course every mercato there is the likelihood that Genoa will sell or buy a multitude of players. This summer it already feels like Genoa could be making numerous changes ahead of next season’s kickoff.
While not in relegation trouble in the second half of the season and spending several weeks in the top ten, Genoa have had numerous players perform well over the course of the year. Those excellent performances may be the catalyst to the club being picked apart by Scudetto contenders and European placeholders in the coming months.
Alberto Gilardino
Genoa’s leading scoring has been attracting the attention of teams for the past 24 months. The Italian wasn’t expected to even return to the Marassi this season as it was thought he would join Juventus by deadline day last August for Marco Borriello. That deal didn’t happen and Alberto Gilardino has been in excellent form since.
Napoli are the club being linked currently and with the Partenopei heading into the Champions League qualifying stage next term, it isn’t unrealistic that Gilardino will be playing for Rafael Benitez’s side.
Luca Antonelli
The former AC Milan youth player may be on his way back to the Rossoneri. Luca Antonelli has come into his own after joining Genoa a few years ago and has improved his all-around game. His passing still needs work, but his ability to defend and attack from the left side would vastly improve Milan. Keep in mind, Milan use Kevin Constant – a makeshift left-back – to patrol that side. Perhaps Constant will be sent back to Genoa.
Mattia Perin
Mattia Perin has arguably been the best goalkeeper in Serie A this season. Here’s why: Unlike Gianluigi Buffon, Perin has marshalled a porous defence and still kept nine cleansheets. The Italian, who should be Buffon’s understudy at the World Cup, has down it all at the age of 21. An age rarely seen for such an accomplished goalkeeper. Perin still has a lot to work on, however.
He is fantastic at the acrobatic save, but still needs to work on his reading of shots and plays unfolding in front of him. Perin has all the tools, he just needs to continue to hone them.
AC Milan want him, though he’d improve any of the top teams in Serie A. Surprisingly, no one outside of Italy seems to know about the kid, and they are definitely missing the boat.
Sebastian De Maio
The Frenchman joined from Brescia last summer and quickly rose through the team’s defensive ranks to play in 21 games this term. Sebastian De Maio is 6’3″ and takes up a lot of space in defence. He is strong and wins balls in the air, though he does lack a bit of pace. This week his agent has claimed Milan and Fiorentina want him, and after this season it will be hard to argue with him.
Sime Vrsaljko
The Croatian has been a revelation this season. Plucked from Dinamo Zagreb for €4 million, a few that seemed quite high at the time, Sime Vrsaljko could be sold on for double that fee. Inter and Fiorentina have been linked, and his signature would improve both sides. He’d fit in better with Fiorentina’s style of play, and would be an exciting addition to the team.
Andrea Bertolacci
Roma recently stated they will re-evaluate their on loan talent before purchasing any players this summer. One player that should be brought back at the cost of Genoa is Andrea Bertolacci. The 23-year-old could be Miralem Pjanic’s replacement, though Bertolacci would benefit from a year of being Pjanic’s understudy.
Bertolacci is a playmaker on the rise and in Roma’s style of play can realise the potential he has shown at Genoa. Not always utilised to the best of his abilities, Bertolacci was used as a deep- laying central midfielder last weekend against Atalanta. His ability to spray the ball around opened up space for the Grifone while he can use cut a defence up with expert passing.
Unfortunately, Genoa have played much of the season with one striker and their style doesn’t necessary suit him entirely. Bertolacci deserves a shot with the Giallorossi and Genoa should get credit for the development they’ve given him and the rest of the players that will leave.
Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter @CalcioFarmer. Drew Farmer is ForzaItalianFootball.com’s Genoa correspondent and can be heard on the Club Focus podcast.
