‘Borriello-Gilardino off because…’

By Football Italia staff

Genoa President Enrico Preziosi has explained why negotiations with Roma to swap Marco Borriello and Alberto Gilardino have fallen through.

Talks between the two clubs began last week over the possibility of sending Gilardino down to the capital, in exchange for the Grifone keeping hold of Borriello, who spent last season on loan at Marassi.

However, on from reports over the weekend, Genoa’s President has confirmed that talks have broken down and that the Rossoblu are now planning ahead with Gilardino, who last season they sent to Bologna on loan.

“There ceased to exist the means for Roma and Genoa to exchange Borriello and Gilardino. We realised that we could not do it,” explained Preziosi to Tele Radio today.

“We did not meet over the weekend to define the deal to suddenly realise there was an obstacle.

“We knew that we would not have closed the operation before seeing each other, and so it was.

“This does not mean that the relationship between the two clubs has deteriorated, though. They remain excellent.

“We wanted a shift in the economic terms in our favour, Roma wanted to do the same for them, so for us there were no favourable terms to deal with.

“Is this a definitive end to talks? In life never say never, but Gilardino today can be considered a fully-fledged Genoa player, once we start preseason we intend to keep him.

“We need to believe in the players, we believe in him, there was the chance to swap him with Borriello, who with us did very well, and Roma would have been a great opportunity for Alberto.

“All things permitting, Gilardino will be our striker.”

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