Former Genoa and AC Milan striker Alberto Gilardino has said that current Guangzhou Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi encouraged him to join the Chinese side.
Gilardino played under Lippi during the Italian national team’s 2006 FIFA World Cup triumph, and the forward spoke about the reasons behind his move to the far-east.
“Lippi encouraged me to take this decision,” he told UEFA.com. “I was lucky enough to be part of the 2006 World Cup winning side, and we enjoy a strong relationship.
“He told me about the club and I realised that I had a rare opportunity to join a team where I still win honours.”
The 32-year-old then went on to say that he had offers from abroad in recent years, but never took the matter seriously.
“I received offers from abroad in recent years,” he said. “However, I never really considered it until the Guangzhou offer.
“I wanted to go to China and experience a new atmosphere and a new culture.
“Lippi has established a strong team in recent years, and even though I’ve been there for only a few months it’s as if I’ve played with the team for years.”
It is also worth mentioning that Gilardino left Genoa for the Chinese giants in July 2014 for a reported fee of €5 million.
