Ex-Genoa president: ‘A lot of serenity and less stress after leaving’

Former Genoa president Enrico Preziosi admitted his departure from the club ‘was like lifting a weight off’ his chest and had high praise for Bologna coach Thiago Motta.

The Giochi Preziosi owner acquired the Ligurian outfit in 2003 and was a colourful character during his time at the helm, being involved in various controversies including a match-fixing scandal, suspicious transfers and financial irregularities.

Preziosi sold Genoa to US investment firm 777 Partners in September 2021 and quickly disappeared from the limelight. The Rossoblu were relegated in their first season under the American owners but bounced back the following year.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italia via Di Marzio, Preziosi first discussed his life after selling Genoa.

“I have acquired a lot of serenity and less stress. Frankly, even if no one believes it, to me the there is no shortage of football. I have already given, and it was like lifting a weight off my chest.

“Today’s football, perhaps, no longer belongs to me. We have always done things out of passion, not for money, despite the fact that there has been a lot of criticism from the fans.

“The type of president that I represented no longer exists and there are only results to be achieved through mechanisms that don’t belong to me. In short, I don’t suffer.”

He was not surprised by Thiago Motta’s impressive work at Bologna. The former midfielder spent two months in charge of the Rossoblu from October to December 2019.

“For me it’s not a surprise. I launched him in Serie A for the first time even if the adventure, given the circumstances, wasn’t the most ideal.

“He interprets football in a modern way but above all he makes his players love him. I took him into the team when no one would give him a chance.

“He paid off his debt to me in terms of football results. We always had a good relationship, we looked each other in the eye and that was it. I called him and he came to coach.”

The former Genoa president explained why Thiago Motta’s time in charge was so brief.

“Maybe the leap to a club that was having difficulties at the time was too immediate, but great midfielders can always become great coaches. I took him because I trust men like him because they have a professional conscience and values.

“Today he understands the Serie A perfectly. Bologna are a compact team that have invested and even if they have no particular excellence, he manages to make the squad express themselves at their best, which is not the same at Inter or Juve…

“He can aspire to much more important places, with all the respect for the club he’s in now.”

Finally, Preziosi was asked if he still follows Genoa after stepping back from the club.

“I like to watch the matches when I can. Gilardino is doing a good job with the absences he has. Being a newly promoted team, he pays the price but they seem like a team that play, apart from the last ten minutes of blackout which they often have.

“If I were to return to football I would only do it for Avellino, my city. I have invested hundreds of millions in other clubs, but I have given very little for my city. But not at the moment because I have other things to do.”