This season has been quite eventful for Genoa. As Italy’s oldest football club, they are undergoing significant changes at the helm and gearing up for a squad overhaul.
Businessman Dan Sucu assumed ownership of Genoa at the close of 2024. This marks the second club acquisition for the Romanian entrepreneur, following his majority stake purchase of Rapid Bucharest in May 2022.
“From the moment I invested in Rapid, I realised I couldn’t create something truly remarkable with just one club. The ambition for a multi-club strategy was essential to my vision. There’s an endless potential for development,” Sucu remarked after taking over the Italian side.
“It’s more beneficial for each club to be part of a network. For now, having two clubs—a less competitive one and one in a leading league—works well for us,” he added.
In the past five months, the new owner, who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Friday, has injected €55 million into Genoa, helping to stabilise the club’s finances.
Initial Transfers
The end of January marked the first transfer activity between the two clubs under Sucu’s ownership. Austrian goalkeeper Franz Stolz was loaned from Genoa to Rapid, while Rapid’s primary keeper, Siegrist Benjamin, made the move to Italy. Additionally, 22-year-old Nigerian striker David Ankeye also joined Rapid on loan.
Another transfer is anticipated this summer, with 19-year-old left-back Andrei Borza expected to join Genoa. Borza is seen as one of Romania’s brightest young talents and is likely to be included in the squad for the U21 European Championship this summer.
It’s worth noting that Genoa has already secured a deal with Romanian national team captain Nicolae Stanciu, who will join the club as a free agent in the summer.
Sadly, Mario Balotelli looks set to leave. The Italian striker has featured just six times for Genoa, and it seems improbable that he will receive a contract extension, with his current deal ending this summer.
Aspirations for Next Season
Having evaded the threat of relegation, Genoa are now setting their sights on a more relaxed upcoming season, both competitively and financially. Coach Patrick Vieira is receiving full support from management, who aim to extend his contract, currently due to expire in 2026, by at least another year. However, AS Roma has expressed interest in the French manager, which could pose a challenge.
Sucu has outlined his ambitions for the club, looking for a mid-table finish while emphasising financial stability. “I need two years to establish a financially sustainable club,” he explained in an interview with Ziarul Financiar.
The positivity surrounding the club’s turnaround was echoed by CEO Andres Blazquez, who stated, “We started with revenues of €37-38 million, and now we are nearing €75 million.
“This is part of the team’s sustainability initiative. We’ve drastically reduced costs by cutting salaries. Furthermore, many players will be leaving in 2027, which will open up new avenues for investment.”
Currently placed 13th and guaranteed safety in Serie A for the coming season, Genoa are gearing up for an away trip to Como, followed by three challenging fixtures against Napoli, AC Milan, and Atalanta—matches that will largely determine their final ranking.
The outlook for Genoa, nine-time Italian champions and winners of the Coppa Italia in the 1936/1937 season, remains intriguing as they prepare for the next campaign.
Don’t miss Genoa’s upcoming match against Como this Sunday
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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