<div style="float: left;margin-right: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/new-genoa-striker-luca/image/9266986?term=Genoa" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9266986/new-genoa-striker-luca/new-genoa-striker-luca.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=9266986" border="0" alt="July 01, 2010 - Genoa, Italy - epa02232416 Italian forward Luca Toni, new player of CFC Genoa 1893, poses with his new jersey during his official presentation in Genoa, Italy, 01 July 2010." width="234" height="351"></figure></div></a></div>
Italy’s oldest soccer club finished a disappointing ninth last season, and the management has made it clear this offseason that such a result is unacceptable.&nbsp; Disappointing play by a number of key players left the club outside the top six, one year after qualifying for the&nbsp;UEFA Cup and two years after returning to Serie A after a long climb up the Italian leagues.&nbsp; As is his style, club president Enrico Preziosi aggressively spent money this offseason, acquiring a list of talented players that he expects to lead his team back to the top six in Serie A.&nbsp; With one of the best managers in Italy, anything less would be a disappointment for the Griffin.
The Transfer Market: If Genoa does qualify for a European tournament next spring, the genesis of that success can be seen in July 2010.&nbsp; During the summer, the club brought in and sent out a number of players, with the end result being a balanced and competitive club.
A perfect example of this philosophy is the keeper position: Genoa spent the entire summer looking for a top-notch keeper, at times pursuing&nbsp;Chievo’s Sorrentino and Cagliari’s Marchetti.&nbsp; Finally, they bought Eduardo from Sporting Braga and sent Marco Amelia to AC Milan, and if Eduardo plays as well as he did in the World Cup for Portugal, this will be the signing of the summer.&nbsp; Genoa also followed Roma’s path from last season and signed Luca Toni to give them a tall attacking option in the middle.&nbsp; Backing him up is Mattia Destro, an eighteen year old on loan from Inter who has scored 21 goals in 29 matches for various Italian youth national teams!
A key player added for depth and the future is attacking midfielder <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/8-of-serie-as-best-prospects/2831" target="_blank">Franco Zuculini</a>, who is on loan from Hoffheim.&nbsp; The young Argentine had one goal in seven appearances as a nineteen year old in Bundesliga, and started for Racing Club at age eighteen.&nbsp; While he will likely begin the season on the bench, he is the type of key reserve that will be the difference for Genoa this season – a player talented enough to fill in and contribute if an injury occurs.
Rumors continue to surround the club, with the latest reports that it is still in the running for World Cup star Kevin Prince-Boateng and Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani Dos Santos (although that rumor is being denied).
Key Players:&nbsp; If Genoa wants to make a run at a European tournament, it has to improve its defense – the rossoblu allowed 61 goals last season.&nbsp; Along with Eduardo, the club added Andrea Ranocchia (on loan from Inter) to bolster the defense.&nbsp; Look for Ranocchia to partner with Italian national team member Domenico Criscito and Rafinha (Schalke 04), but also in the mix are Dario Dainelli (Fiorentina), Salvatore Bocchetti, and&nbsp;a host&nbsp;of other players who have starting experience in major leagues.
In the middle will be captain Marco Rossi and new signed Miguel Veloso.&nbsp; The Portuguese holding midfielder/defender was in high demand this offseason, but the Griffin pried him from his home country by trading money and Alberto Zapater to Sporting Lisbon.
Expect Luca Toni to start in the middle of the 3-4-3 and provide a physical presence for the Genoa attack.&nbsp; On his flank could be returning forward Robert Acquafresca, who spent some time the past few seasons being traded to and from Genoa.&nbsp; Also likely starting is Rodrigo Palacio, who had partnered with the departed Hernan Crespo to form a potent attack.
Outlook:&nbsp; This team has invested heavily in the transfer market (and may continue to do so) with the goal of getting a European tournament spot.&nbsp; Defensively this team is greatly improved and the flexibility of the players they obtained will help Eduardo reduce the number of goals allowed this season.&nbsp; The club last season had balanced scoring, and you can expect the same this year as a number of players on their roster have the ability to score.&nbsp; This team has the talent and leadership to qualify for the Europa Cup OR the final Champions League position, but a top three finish may be out of their reach.

Serie A Preview &#8211; Genoa Aims for European Success

Serie A Preview - Genoa Aims for European Success - World Soccer Talk

Serie A Preview – Genoa Aims for European Success

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/fifa-celtic-sporting/image/9405476?term=Miguel+Veloso" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright" style="border: 0px initial initial" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9405476/fifa-celtic-sporting/fifa-celtic-sporting.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9405476" border="0" alt="July 21, 2010 - Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America - 21 July 2010: Sporting midfielder Miguel Veloso." width="300" height="207"></figure></div></a></div>
Genoa are a club with high ambitions, and it’s been shown this transfer market that they want to contend for a Champions League spot with big name arrivals. It’s Genoa president Enrico Preziosi who continues to revitalize the club with intelligent signings like Diego Milito and Thiago Motta from last season, and Preziosi is also a president who keeps youth and financial fair-play in mind.
But to buy you have to sell, and Genoa have made some smart decisions in who to keep, and who to get rid of. The two biggest transfers which left Genoa this transfer window were Papasthathopoulos who was bought by AC Milan, and the goalkeeper Marco Amelia, who is on loan at AC Milan. A few other youngsters like El Shaarawy and Lazarevic have left the club, but they will probably return after a season of playing for teams in the Serie B.
Genoa have reinforced with some great signings which replace the losses and provide more tactical depth for coach Gianpiero Gasperini to utilize. Luca Toni was bought from Roma to give last season’s 3-4-3 a big center-forward with experience and height. And as backup for Toni Genoa were also able to get on a loan deal Inter Milan’s 18 year-old striker Destro, who is currently playing for the Italy under-19s.
Genoa also paid attention to the World Cup in South Africa, and they spotted 27 year-old goalkeeper Eduardo who was playing for Portugal, the perfect replacement for Amelia. Genoa bought Eduardo from Sporting Braga for about 4.5 million Euros, concluding what seems like a smart deal right now considering that the player had a positive showing in the World Cup.
Genoa also got a replacement for Papasthathopoulos to play in the middle of the defense, Ranocchia who was playing for Bari is now partially owned by Inter Milan and partially owned by Genoa, and will play for the rossoblu this season. After the promising Italian defender, Genoa got Franco Zuculini, a young Argentinean on loan from Hoffenheim who plays as an attacking midfielder.
The cherry on top of the cake of Genoa’s signings has to be the central midfielder acquired from Sporting Lisbon, Miguel Veloso. While the transfer hasn’t been officially announced, the deal is done, Sporting will receive 6.5 million Euros from Genoa along with Zapater. Miguel Veloso is just 24 years-old and is one of the most promising center midfielders around, he was being tracked by Inter Milan and other big clubs from around the world, but in the end Genoa were able to get the Portuguese international’s signature.
With these signings, Genoa looks to fight for a spot among the top clubs in Europe, but they don’t want to be thought of as a team who bought their position, here’s what Enrico Preziosi said regarding Genoa’s transfers,
<blockquote>“I’m not working to make star signings, and I don’t want the medal for Genoa as king of the summer market. For some fans it might seem incomprehensible, but I only want to secure Genoa’s future… Our work seeks to reinforce the spine of the team: goalkeeper, central defender, midfielder, and striker.”</blockquote>
Genoa seem to have covered all of the positions with their signings, now all that remains is that the players do well and fight for a spot among the best in Italy. What are your thoughts on Genoa’s trnasfers? Share your thoughts below by commenting!

Genoa reinforce with Miguel Veloso

Genoa reinforce with Miguel Veloso - World Soccer Talk

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Serie A Preview – Genoa Aims for European Success

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Genoa reinforce with Miguel Veloso