After 18 months, Ruslan Malinovskyi has returned to Italy with a £6 million move to Genoa, marking a significant shift from Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the Ukrainian midfielder.
Malinovskyi’s journey back to Serie A for a lesser fee than Marseille paid for him reveals the ups and downs he experienced across the Channel in France.Despite heavy links to Tottenham Hotspur, Malinovskyi opted to join Marseille, with Antonio Conte’s side missing out on his signature in both the previous summer and January transfer windows. However, his performances since leaving Atalanta did little to justify the £40 million investment Spurs were reportedly willing to make.According to Fabrizio Romano, Malinovskyi desired a move to Tottenham but Atalanta’s president, Luca Percassi, insisted on a £40 million fee or nothing. With his contract expiring in the summer of 2023, Atalanta reluctantly accepted a reduced offer from Marseille a year ago.Malinovskyi’s underwhelming stint at Marseille, where he made only 13 Ligue 1 starts and contributed minimally with one goal and one assist, contrasts sharply with Tottenham’s initial interest.Now, with Malinovskyi joining Genoa, his transfer fee is significantly lower than the £40 million demanded by Atalanta for his services just over a year ago.For Tottenham, their deadline day is expected to be relatively quiet, with Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner already secured. While further deals for players like Dominic Solanke and Antonio Nusa are deemed unlikely, Malinovskyi’s journey serves as a reminder of the complexities of the transfer market.
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