Genoa offers to host Libertadores

By Football Italia staff

The city of Genoa has offered to host the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final, due to the close historic links to River Plate and Boca Juniors.

The match was called of on Saturday after the Boca team bus was hit by tear gas, and yesterday the rescheduled game was also called off.

Boca are known as the Xeneizes, or Genoese, after being founded by immigrants from the city, while River were formed by a merger of two clubs, Santa Rosa and Rosales.

Santa Rosa were also founded by immigrants from Genoa, so there is a deep connection between the city and the two clubs.

“Dear Presidents,” a letter from Genoa’s municipality reads.

“Our city, close in a historical, cultural and sporting way in Buenos Aires, feels deep and indissoluble links with your two prestigious clubs, which were founded by our countrymen who emigrated from Italy to Argentina in the early twentieth century and are today twinned with our two teams, Genoa and Sampdoria.

“The painful events which struck us recently have awakened a profound sense of community and of the rediscovery of our roots.

“Therefore, as chief executive for sport for the Comune di Genova, I’m pleased and honoured to inform you that our city is available to host his important and prestigious cup final, the derby of the Argentinian capital.

“I am grateful for your attention, and I remain available for anything you need.”

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