The sports director Gemmi speaks. "Satisfied with the market. Ismajli? We offered". And tomorrow Empoli makes '600'

by Simone Cioni EMPOLI Six hundred games in Serie AThis is the finish line that theEmpoliCelebrating it with a positive result is the goal, but it will not be easy. At 18 pm at Castellani-Computer Gross Arena in fact the Milan, which has now added Walker to Theo Hernandez, Fofana, Reijnders, Pulisic and Leao, as well as the two forwards Joao Felix and Gimenez, who immediately showed up with a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win over Roma in the Coppa Italia last Wednesday. D'Aversa will still be dealing with the emergency. While Grassi and Pezzella are returning from suspension, Maleh will be absent for the same reason and the three injured players Ismajli, Anjorin and Fazzini will almost certainly not make it, with Marianucci, Henderson and Cacace ready to replace them. The new January signing Kouame should start from the bench.

And the sporting director intervened precisely on what was done during the last month of negotiations Roberto Gemmi. "We achieved exactly what we set out to do, without regrets or mistakes. If anything, I would have liked to close a deal with Palermo, but for various reasons it didn't work out. Our first goal, however, has always been to retain the players we consider fundamental because we didn't need to sell at all costs and we believe in their technical and economic value - explains the Italian sports director -. The boys have demonstrated their value both as a team and in terms of individual performance, so there was no need to overturn everything after the great work done by the coach, which is clear for all to see".

Gemmi also sheds light on the negotiations for Fazzini and Goglichidze, as well as on the issue of Ismajli, whose contract expires in June. "In one case there was the desire to keep the player, in the other we were unable to find the necessary agreement. Not so much for the offers, all of which were dignified, but for a question of formulas, payment methods or other aspects linked to the budgets - admits Gemmi - As for Ismajli, however, we have already presented him with an offer and a proposal that he is thinking about. He is free to make his own decisions, but he knows well that we consider him an important player and that we would like to continue the relationship with him, always respecting our parameters. If he decided to stay, we would find an agreement in a very short time. In any case, we respect his choice, because we know we are dealing with a serious professional, who is giving his all for the team". Finally, the Italian sports director does not exclude the opportunity to fish for possible reinforcements among the free agents. "If the opportunity arises, we will seize it, but we will not make operations just for the sake of it," he concluded. "As for injuries, I am aware that we currently have nine and that it is a significant number, but these are situations that can happen and we cannot think of revolutionising the squad every time they occur. It is a complicated and difficult moment, but it is part of football. We must grit our teeth and face it with determination, remaining focused and united to overcome it."