Son of Julio Cruz set for Verona medical

Juan Manuel Cruz, the son of former Inter, Bologna and Lazio striker Julio Cruz, will be in Italy tomorrow for his Hellas Verona medical.

The 24-year-old is a free agent after his contract with Banfield was allowed to expire on August 31.

He spent his entire career at Banfield and followed in his father’s footsteps by playing as a centre-forward.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the move was originally meant to be in January, but the contract has been signed and he will have his medical over the weekend with Serie A club Verona.

His father, Julio Cruz, was known as Il Jardinero and will turn 49 next month.

He spent much of his career in Serie A with Bologna from 2000 to 2003, then Inter until 2009 and spent one season at Lazio before his retirement in 2010.

Cruz amassed 243 Serie A appearances, scoring 80 goals and providing 27 assists.

His other clubs were Banfield, River Plate and Feyenoord.