Italian Serie A returnees, Hellas Verona have acquired the services of Ghana’s Emmanuel Agyemang Badu on a season-long loan.
The midfielder, during his summer holidays back in his homelands a couple of weeks ago, revealed telling his employers to listen to offers this summer after a long service.
Badu, who has bar the 2017/18 loan spell at Turkish side Bursaspor, spent his whole career in Europe with Udinese since 2010 had told Citi TV:
“Udinese has been a blessing club for Ghanaian players [sic]. From the times of Gargo Mohammed who later captained the team to Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, Rabiu Mohammed, Jonathan Mensah, Asamoah Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, myself and now Nicholas Opoku. The players before us left a good reputation so it has made it easier for them to want to sign Ghanaian players.
“I have been there [at Udinese] for about nine years now. Last two season’s I went to Bursaspor on loan and came back. The supporters have been very wonderful; I have a very good relationship with management members and everybody there.
“I have communicated my stance to them before coming for holidays. They know my stance now and if something pops up, they are willing to allow me go out for other challenges. And I think it’s time for new challenges elsewhere. I need to offer myself other options in my career. I know it won’t be easy…”
And the 28-year-old gets his wish as Verona came knocking with a loan deal with permanent option at the end of the 2019/20 season.
Badu managed only four Serie A appearances for a total 161 minutes of football last season due to an injury that kept him out for more than half a year.
“Definitely this has been one of the most difficult seasons in my career. Unfortunately, I had an injury in pre-season and it took me out for about seven months but with time I was took, took my therapy, gym work and I was back to help the team [Udinese] get a respectable position at the end of the campaign,” he indicated.
Hellas Verona secured quick return to the Italian topflight via the playoffs early June by spending just a season in the Serie B.
Emmanuel Agyemang Badu becomes the third Ghanaian after compatriots Godfred Donsah and Derrick Owusu to join for the Gialloblù in recent years.
