Ricardo Centurión’s dreadful spell at Genoa looks to be coming to an end

Once the ‘next big thing’ in Argentine football, Ricardo Centurión appears to be nearing a return to Racing Club following a disastrous loan spell in Italy with Genoa. Racing President, Victor Blanco told Olé “there is a chance“, given that Genoa still owe the second installment of the loan fee and will almost certainly not pay the amount set to make the deal permanent.

It is reported that Genoa owe €525,000 as the second installment on the loan deal and will need to pay €3.2 million to make the deal permanent.

Up until this point Racing have received only €25,000 but with Centurión only playing a handful of times in the year that he has been in Italy, it is unlikely that Genoa will be too keen to spend anymore money on the 21-year-old.

Performances at Racing as a teenager, with his pace and trickery on the wing, saw comparisons to Ángel Di María but this move to Europe has undoubtedly stunted his progression.

The transfer from day one has been a bit of a disaster for Racing and Centurión. Initially a deal to move to Russian side, Anzhi Makhachkala was agreed, which would have been a club record for Racing. However, a failed medical led to the collapse of the transfer and then Genoa swooped in to take the player on loan.

Racing haven’t received the money they had hoped and Centurión has certainly not made the breakthrough he had hoped in Europe. At 21, a move back to Argentina may benefit him and Racing would certainly welcome a fit and hungry Centurión to their squad. There is ample time for another move to Europe should Centurión prove himself once again.