Alberto Gilardino blasted “crazy” Gian Piero Gasperini and Cesare Prandelli for pushing him towards Guangzhou Evergrande.

Alberto Gilardino blasted “crazy” Gian Piero Gasperini and Cesare Prandelli for pushing him towards Guangzhou Evergrande.

The striker has now officially left Genoa for a permanent transfer to Marcello Lippi’s Chinese club, where he reunites with ex-Bologna teammate Alessandro Diamanti.

“I leave Genoa with a heavy heart, because Gasperini pushed for my sale. It was crazy,” 32-year-old Gila told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Forwards over the age of 30 are considered old now, but the Italian Coaches need to open their minds and rely less on stereotypes.

“Miroslav Klose is 36 and playing in a World Cup Final for Germany tomorrow. I told myself I can still make it too. In two and a half years I will return to Serie A to hit the 200-goal mark.”

Gilardino revealed Gasperini wasn’t the only Coach who let him down, as he wasn’t even included in the extended squad for the World Cup.

“Have I overcome the shock yet? No. I had turned down an offer from Toronto in order to earn my call-up.

“Prandelli launched my career at Parma and I certainly won’t change my mind on him, but the disappointment on a human level was huge. I deserved at least a phone call to let me know.”

Now Gilardino begins a new stage of his life in China along with his young family and flew out on Friday night.

“I’ll be living in the same skyscraper as Diamanti. At the start I’ll have a driver and translator with me at all times.

“My oldest daughter, Ginevra, will go to the American school to learn English and Chinese. Gemma goes to nursery and the youngest Giulia is still home. My wife was rightly sceptical about this move, but I convinced her.

“Guangzhou are every bit as organised as Milan, Inter and Juventus. They won the Asian Champions League and want to keep on winning, like me. I will wear the 38 jersey.”

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