Gilardino explains Genoa plans for Spence but Dragusin ‘is the past’

Alberto Gilardino is glad Radu Dragusin has had a chance to join Tottenham but insists the 21-year-old defender ‘is the past’ and is confident Djed Spence will help the Rossoblu in the second part of the season.

Genoa will host Torino at the Stadio Ferraris on Saturday, their first game since Dragusin’s move to Tottenham.

“We said goodbye to him and wished him good luck. However, at the same time, Radu is the past. now we think about Bani, De Winter, Vasquez, Vogliacco and Matturro. My priority is to develop these players and they must be determined to do even more in the second part of the season,” Genoa coach Gilardino said at a pre-match press conference on Friday, as quoted by TMW.

“I am satisfied to see players like Radu thrive and I hope the same will happen to other players in the team. It’s a path we’ve taken since I joined the first team,” continued the 2006 Italy World Cup winner.

Tottenham full-back Spence joined Genoa on loan as part of the deal.

“He didn’t do much yesterday and it’s normal when you join a new club,” said Gilardino.

“We have scheduled a training session on the pitch for him. He wants to give his contribution to the team. For his characteristics, he is a wing-back, we’ll assess his condition and he can be helpful.”

Spence played seven games on loan at Leeds United in the first part of the campaign.

Gilardino admitted he expects more signings in the January transfer window, especially a centre-back to replace Dragusin.

“I like physically structured players and I have a desire to include new players,” he confirmed.

“I hope the message has gone through because we have some crucial games in January starting tomorrow. We need a deep squad.

“Other teams will get reinforcements and we must think about the present. The team wants to amaze our fans, so we need a focused performance.”

Many Genoa fans have thanked Dragusin for contributing to the team’s positive results over the last year and a half, but others are unhappy that a key player was allowed to leave halfway through the campaign.

“I believe our fans will support us and will come to the stadium to help the team,” ensured Gilardino.

“Tomorrow, we’ll need them more than ever; I am sure they’ll help us. I’ll be the first to annoy the club – he said smiling – but they already know this. I expect a sold-out stadium.”

Genoa earned 21 points in the opening 19 Serie A games and are currently seven points above 18th-placed Hellas Verona. They gained Serie A promotion last season, by finishing second in the Serie B table.