Sinisa Mihajlovic is glad Torino resisted all offers for Andrea Belotti. “It wasn’t easy, but at this point Il Gallo is staying and he’s happy.”
Toro begin their Serie A season against Bologna at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Belotti was at the centre of a bidding war between Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United this summer, but nobody reached the €100m release clause.
Sinisa Mihajlovic is glad Torino resisted all offers for Andrea Belotti. “It wasn’t easy, but at this point Il Gallo is staying and he’s happy.”
Toro begin their Serie A season against Bologna at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Belotti was at the centre of a bidding war between Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United this summer, but nobody reached the €100m release clause.
“It was not easy to keep hold of Belotti, not because he wanted to go, but due to the importance of the offers that arrived,” said the Coach in a Press conference.
“It was a difficult situation for him too, even if we realised it was unlikely certain targets would be reached. At this point Il Gallo is staying and he’s happy to remain. We all love him here and he knows that.
“He is our captain and our hitman, but at the same time I don’t like it when people only talk about Belotti around Torino. The strength of this squad is in the group, because as loners we’ll get nowhere. The team makes the best of individual talents, which goes for Adem Ljajic and the others too.
“I don’t know if I would’ve accepted certain offers if I had been in his place, but President Urbano Cairo was very tough and deserves credit. We never reached a stage where it was up to Belotti whether he stay or go.
“I thank Cairo, because keeping Belotti was an important signal. We’re still missing something on the market, but the club did everything possible and brought in some interesting players.
“Last season we worked primarily on creating a group, whereas this time we’re focusing on the details. If there are to be embarrassing results, they will not be forgiven.
Lucas Boye sits out a ban with Daniele Baselli, Lyanco and Mirko Valdifiori injured.