Businessman Dan Sucu took over Genoa at the end of 2024. It is the second club the Romanian businessman has taken over, after buying the majority stake in Rapid Bucharest in May 2022.
"From the moment I invested in Rapid, I realised that I would never be able to end up building something really special with just one club. The multi-channel desire, the idea that I have to participate in something like that, was mandatory in my mind. The benefits I can develop endlessly.
"For each club, it is better to be in a union. For the time being, from our point of view, two are as good as it can be, one in an average league, one in a leading league," Sucu said after taking over the Italian club.
In the last five months, the new owner, who turned 62 on Friday, has invested €55m in Genoa, a sum that has restored the club's financial situation.
First transfers
The end of January also saw the first moves between the two clubs under Ducu. The Austrian goalkeeper Franz Stolz was loaned from Genoa to the Romanian club, while Rapid's first-choice keeper Siegrist Benjamin arrived in Italy. Nigerian striker David Ankeye, 22, also joined Rapid on loan.
Another move is expected to come this summer, when youngster Andrei Borza is expected to join Genoa. Aged just 19, the left-back is one of Romania's most promising players and is expected to be part of Romania's squad for the U21 European Championship in the summer.
On the transfer front, it should be recalled that Genoa have already made a deal with Romanian national captain Nicolae Stanciu, who will join the club in the summer as a free agent.
Mario Balotelli has almost certainly been pencilled in as a departure. The Italian striker has made just six appearances for Genoa, and there is little chance of him being offered a contract extension, which expires in the summer.
The club's most valuable player, Albert Gudmundsson, is unlikely to stay at Genoa. He is on loan at Fiorentina, where he has scored six goals in 21 games. Valued by Flashscore at €22.8m, the forward has impressed the Florence club, who are preparing to activate the release clause of €17m.
Another Genoese player who has attracted the interest of big clubs is defender Koni De Winter. The 22-year-old Belgian is being courted by clubs in Italy (Napoli and Inter) and the Premier League (Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham). Bought for €8m in January 2024 from Juventus, the club could cash in between €20m and €30m for the Belgian's move, who is valued by Flashscore at €16.6m.
Goals for next season
Having escaped relegation fears, Genoa are aiming for a less stressful upcoming season on the sporting and economic front. Coach Patrick Vieira has the full backing of the management, who intend to extend his contract, which expires in 2026, for at least another year. However, AS Roma are interested in the French coach, which could prove to be an obstacle.
Sucu has set his goals for next season, saying he wants a mid-table finish, but emphasises economic stability. "I need two years to succeed in being an economically sustainable club," the owner said in an interview with Ziarul Financiar.
The club's turn for the better was also noted by CEO Andres Blazquez. "We started from €37-38 million revenue, and now we are close to €75 million.
"It's part of the team's sustainability process. Costs have been reduced substantially because salaries have been cut. In addition, from 2027, many players will no longer be here, and that will allow us to invest more."
Currently in 13th place and with their place in Serie A assured for next season, Genoa prepare for an away trip to Como, before three tough matches follow: Napoli, AC Milan and Atalanta, which will broadly decide their position at the end of the season.
It remains to be seen how Genoa, nine-time Italian champions and winners of the Coppa Italia in 1936/1937, will look next season.
