Andres Blazquez confirms that Genoa captain Domenico Criscito ‘is considering an important offer’ and admits the club made a mistake by hiring Andriy Shevchenko who is now trying to return to Kyiv to help his country.
Blazquez is one of the representatives of 777 Partners, the Miami-based investment company that acquired Genoa in September. Il Grifone is involved in the race for survival and has won just one game this season in Serie A.
They have had three coaches this season, Davide Ballardini, Andriy Shevchenko and Alexander Blessin who is still unbeaten in his first five games at Marassi having picked up just as many draws.
“It will be difficult to gain survival, but we believe in it. The team is playing well and we could have won the last games,” Blazquez told local TV Telenord.
We will stay even if we are relegated to Serie B. I am looking for a house in Genoa, so I am definitely planning to stay and develop the project.”
One of their first decisions was to sack Ballardini to hire former Milan and Chelsea coach Shevchenko, but their plan to relaunch the team didn’t work out. Genoa collected just three points in ten games with the ex-striker in charge.
“We thought he would have done well, otherwise we would not offer him a lengthy contract,” he admitted.
“It was a wrong choice, we made a mistake. I haven’t spoken to him for a couple of weeks now, but I am sure that he is helping Ukraine at this difficult moment. I know that he is trying to go to Kyiv to help his family and we are ready to support him.”
Genoa captain Domenico Criscito hasn’t played for the last few games and is reportedly considering an offer from Toronto FC, where he’d join Lorenzo Insigne from next season.
“He is our captain and an important player in the history of the club,” said Blazquez.
“He has received an important offer, but there is nothing concrete yet. He is thinking about it. He must take many things into account, including his family.”