Recent weeks have been difficult for Genoa fans. They have had to watch as the team that brought them to the brink of an expedition into European football has been pilfered of its finest talent, leaving a mere carcass of what was before.
Shreds of hope do remain, primarily due to the fact that this sort of thing has happened to other clubs who have survived to tell the tale. Indeed, Genoa can find particular light in a story coming from English shores.
Last summer, Southampton sold Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert to Liverpool, Luke Shaw joined Manchester United and Calum Chambers left for Arsenal.