He promised he'd come back when, in 2011, Domenico Criscito left Genoa for Zenit Saint Petersburg. Seven years later, the captain took his armband back, wearing his rossoblù jersey that should now feel like a second skin.
There wasn't much needed to find an agreement in last January, as a handshake with president Preziosi was enough: "You should call me capitan Presente, as I returned and will end my career at Genoa" has he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I had a special relationship with the fans in Russia, seven years went by very quickly and I was fine there. it's been a privilege for me to be part of that group".
Many offers but Criscito couldn't resist to Genoa's: "I haven't had any doubt when the president called me, what I feel for the Genoa jersey is really special. This team only need a bit of luck to emerge, we have a few less points but if we think about the games we've played, our journey has been good so far and the results will come. We have everything we need to succeed: expert players, younger ones like Piatek, Kouamé and Biraschi who help us a lot".
"Mancini brought me back to the azzurro squad, I've missed the last selection but I didn't have a summer preparation and only now can I really say I feel good on the physical side".
