CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Genoa CFC |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Daniele De Rossi |
| Stadium | Stadio Luigi Ferraris |
| Nickname | Il Grifone / Rossoblù |
| Founded | 1893 |
| First-Choice Striker | Milutin Osmajić |
| Supporting Striker | Lorenzo Colombo |
| Young Forward | Elias Havel |
| Notable Arrival | Milutin Osmajić (from Preston, €2.5m) |
The Defining Moment
Genoa’s 2026/27 forward line was defined by a summer arrival that De Rossi had explicitly requested. After a 2-0 defeat to Napoli in the opening fixture exposed the Grifone’s lack of penetration, the manager made his priority clear: he needed a striker who could run in behind, stretch defences, and convert the chances that a possession-heavy side was creating but not finishing.
The response was Milutin Osmajić, signed from Preston North End for €2.5 million plus bonuses on a three-year contract until 2029. The Montenegrin arrived with a self-description that read like a direct answer to De Rossi’s prayers: “Velocità, forza e finalizzazione”—speed, strength, and finishing.
The defining moment, then, was not a goal but a profile. Osmajić was everything Genoa had lacked: a forward who attacks depth, who stretches the space that Vitinha and Traorè need to operate, and who offers the counterattacking threat that a team building patiently from the back requires to turn possession into points.
Tactical Context
De Rossi’s attacking structure has evolved alongside his midfield. The 3-4-2-1 that emerged in October placed two trequartisti—Vitinha and Traorè—behind a lone striker, tasked with linking play and arriving in the box while the forward occupied the last line.
The numbers tell a story of a forward line that has been functional without being prolific. Genoa scored eight goals in their opening nine league matches, an average of 0.89 per game, the joint-lowest in the division at that stage. The 2-0 victory over Juventus, secured without a recognized striker scoring, demonstrated that the team could win through midfield and defensive solidity—but it also highlighted the reliance on goals from elsewhere.
Osmajić’s impact has been immediate in terms of profile, if not yet in volume. His goals-per-90 rate of 0.61 led the Genoa squad in the early weeks, a figure that reflected both his efficiency and his limited minutes as he adapted to Serie A. By late October, he had scored once in six appearances, but his value was measured in the spaces he created for Colombo and the trequartisti rather than solely in his own tally.
The structural concern is the partnership. De Rossi has alternated between Osmajić and Lorenzo Colombo as the lone striker, with the impression that the Montenegrin has overtaken the Italian in the hierarchy. Colombo offers a different profile—stronger with his back to goal, more of a link player—but his lack of goals (zero in five league appearances) has made him the supporting act rather than the protagonist.
The Forwards
Milutin Osmajić
Osmajić is Genoa’s first-choice striker and the player De Rossi identified as the missing piece in his attacking puzzle. The 26-year-old Montenegrin arrived from Preston North End after three seasons in the English Championship, bringing a profile that the manager had explicitly requested: speed, strength, and finishing.
His game is built on attacking depth. Osmajić prefers to run in behind rather than drop deep, stretching defences and creating space for the trequartisti to operate between the lines. In De Rossi’s system, this is invaluable: Vitinha and Traorè need room to receive the ball, and a striker who occupies the last line provides it.
At 26, Osmajić is in his prime. His contract runs until 2029, and his €2.5 million fee represents a modest investment for a player with his profile. Whether he can translate his Championship goalscoring record into Serie A consistency is the question that will define Genoa’s attacking ceiling.
Lorenzo Colombo
Colombo is the incumbent, the Italian striker who began the season as De Rossi’s first choice before Osmajić’s arrival reshaped the hierarchy. The 24-year-old offers a different profile: stronger with his back to goal, more willing to engage in physical duels, and capable of linking play with the midfield.
His numbers tell a story of a forward struggling for rhythm. Zero goals in five league appearances, four shots, and only one on target. The service has not always been ideal—Colombo often finds himself isolated, holding the ball while waiting for teammates who do not arrive. But the lack of output has been a concern, and Osmajić’s arrival has pushed him to the bench.
At 24, Colombo still has time to develop. But in a relegation battle, time is a luxury that Genoa cannot afford.
Elias Havel
Havel is the young forward whose profile mirrors Osmajić’s: a striker who loves depth and possesses the pace to threaten in behind. The 19-year-old Austrian represents the future of the department rather than its present, but his development within the first-team environment is a long-term investment.
His involvement has been limited, but his attributes align with what De Rossi wants from his forwards. In the event of injuries or suspensions to Osmajić and Colombo, Havel may be called upon—but he is not yet ready to carry the burden of a Serie A relegation battle.
Jeff Ekhator
Ekhator is the academy product whose promotion to the first team reflects Genoa’s commitment to internal development. The young forward provides depth and competition, though his opportunities in the senior squad have been limited.
At his age, development is the priority. Whether he gets the minutes to progress at Genoa or needs a loan move to gain experience will be a decision for the club in the coming months.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Genoa Forward Serie A Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milutin Osmajić | 6 (3) | 477 | 1 | 1 | Striker |
| Lorenzo Colombo | 5 (4) | 319 | 0 | 0 | Striker |
| Elias Havel | 2 (0) | ~30 | 0 | 0 | Forward |
| Jeff Ekhator | 1 (0) | ~10 | 0 | 0 | Forward |
TABLE B: Genoa Attack – Key Metrics (Serie A 2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 8 | In 9 matches |
| Goals per Game | 0.89 | Among Serie A’s lowest |
| Osmajić Goals per 90 | 0.61 | Led Genoa squad |
| Colombo Shots on Target | 1 | From 4 attempts |
| Osmajić Transfer Fee | €2.5m | From Preston North End |
TABLE C: Genoa Forwards – Squad Profile
| Player | Age | Contract Until | Market Value | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milutin Osmajić | 26 | 2029 | €4.0m | First-choice striker |
| Lorenzo Colombo | 24 | 2028 | €6.0m | Rotation/backup |
| Elias Havel | 19 | 2028 | €1.5m | Development |
| Jeff Ekhator | 19 | 2028 | €0.8m | Development |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Genoa’s forward line is a unit defined by a profile shift. The club entered the season with Colombo as the incumbent, a striker suited to holding the ball and linking play. De Rossi’s assessment after the Napoli defeat was that this profile was insufficient: Genoa needed depth runners, players who could stretch the pitch and create space for the trequartisti.
Osmajić’s arrival was the response. His pace and willingness to attack the last line have given Genoa a different dimension, one that complements the creativity of Vitinha and Traorè. The 2-0 victory over Juventus, secured through a midfield goal and a defensive clean sheet, demonstrated that Genoa could win without relying on their strikers—but the long-term viability of that approach is questionable.
The numbers reflect the dependency. Eight goals in nine matches is a modest return, and no forward has established himself as a reliable scorer. Osmajić’s goals-per-90 rate is encouraging, but his minutes have been managed as he adapts to Serie A. Colombo’s lack of output has been a concern, and his role may be reduced to that of a substitute as the season progresses.
The Verdict from the Camp
On Osmajić’s arrival and profile:
“Velocità, forza e finalizzazione. Così descriverebbe le sue principali caratteristiche Milutin Osmajic, attaccante montenegrino nuova punta del Genoa, arrivato dal Preston North End. Ed è quello di cui ha bisogno il Grifone.”
On Osmajić’s potential impact:
“Osmajic, così come Havel, invece può regalare quella marcia in più e oltre ad aprire spazi allo stesso Colombo anche aumentare la pericolosità offensiva di una squadra che costruisce molto ma concretizza poco.”
On the hierarchy:
“Osmajic ha superato Colombo, il quale potrebbe faticare nel ritrovare una maglia da titolare qualora il Genoa dovesse confermare la presenza di un solo centravanti. Tuttavia, Colombo troverà spazio sicuramente a partita in corso e si alternerà con il centravanti montenegrino anche per il ruolo di attaccante titolare.”
Where Next?
The specific question hanging over Genoa’s forward line is whether Osmajić can translate his profile into goals. His pace and movement have given De Rossi the dimension he wanted, but a striker’s ultimate currency is his scoring record, and one goal in six appearances is not yet the return that a team fighting for mid-table security requires.
That makes Osmajić’s adaptation the most important variable. If he can build on his early performances and establish himself as a reliable Serie A scorer, Genoa have a forward capable of turning their possession dominance into points. If he cannot, the burden falls on Colombo—whose confidence appears fragile—or on the trequartisti to compensate for a toothless attack.
The deeper concern is depth. Havel and Ekhator are development players, not ready-made solutions. The January window may offer an opportunity to add another forward, but Genoa’s resources are limited and their priorities may lie elsewhere. For now, the Grifone’s attacking hopes rest on a Montenegrin who arrived from the Championship with a point to prove and a manager who believes he is the answer.
