Genoa isn’t just known for its seafaring past… but also for helping fallen wingers set sail again.
The likes of Diego Perotti, Suso and Iago Falque have all benefitted from this cure, going from being inconsistent talents to churning out strong performances week in, week out, all earning moves to big clubs. Though Falque has since moved to Torino, he’s playing very well at the Olimpico.
Will this therapy work with Lucas Ocampos, too? The young Argentine moved to Monaco when he was younger, having been launched by Matias Almeyda at River Plate. The former Lazio, Parma and Inter man wasn’t the only one to believe that Ocampos was a star: David Trezeguet joined in, too, recommending the youngster to former club AS Monaco, and Coach Claudio Ranieri.
It took the Principality team 5 million to sign Ocampos from under the noses of Juventus, Roma, Chelsea and Arsenal back in 2012, and it looked like he was on the right path when he made 29 appearances in his maiden season there.
His 4 Ligue 2 goals helped Monaco earn promotion back to the top flight, but he’s since struggled to play well on a consistent basis. His move to Marseille having not worked out, Ocampos’ loan to Genoa comes with certain conditions: namely, it will become permanent if he scores seven goals, for which he will cost 8m. He’ll cost 14m were he to make it 12.
Compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria, with Coaches like Almeyda considering him a big future star and current gaffer Ivan Juric calling him “crazily talented”, Ocampos now has to show he can do it. Consistently.
@FedeZanon, adapted by @EdoDalmonte
