Genoa have confirmed the capture of Sporting Clube de Portugal forward Diego Capel for an undisclosed fee.
The Spaniard joins the Italian outfit having netted 10 times in 99 appearances for Sporting. Capel arrived in Genoa this morning to undergo his medical and later completed his first training session with the squad.
Aiming to replace the departed Iago Falque
Having netted 13 times last term, Iago Falque earned a move to Champions League outift Roma, having been unhappy with the hierarchy's failure to obtain a Uefa license to compete in the forthcoming Europa League campaign.
Also departing was M'Baye Niang who, having spent the latter six months of the season in Genoa, opted to stay at his parent club, AC Milan, in lieu of extending his contract at the Rossoblu.
Dovetailing with Diego Perotti, the pair were instrumental to Genoa's exemplary sixth place finish last term.
With Perotti also being linked with a move to Inter - should the club miss out on VfL Wolfsburg winger Ivan Perisic - Gian Piero Gasperini could head into the new campaign with an unfamiliar frontline.
Capel, though he doesn't boast the most promising goal tally, should help provide impetus in the final third, with the club having already liberated Goran Pandev from his purgatory in Turkey.
Looking to emulate Diego Milito
At his inaugural press conference this afternoon, the Spaniard revealed that he wants to match the achievements of both Diego Milito and Perotti at the club.
“I’m looking to match the great goals that [Diego] Milito and Perotti reached,” said Capel. “I know that they have done very well and I hope to do the same."
The winger also went onto to wax lyrically about coach Gasperini, adding that he has "created confidence and that will only improve in time."
Genoa kick off their Serie A campaign with a tricky away trip to Palermo.