Despite Leo Østigard’s contract with Brighton & Hove Albion expiring in the summer, the Seagulls decided it was better for him to head elsewhere and eventually become a free agent than to sit at Amex Stadium after returning from Stoke City and not be used by Graham Potter.
That’s why a loan to Genoa was organised in January, where the Norwegian centre-back has enjoyed a good start to his stay, especially after Alexander Blessin took over the team mid-January.
The Serie A side have only conceded two goals in their last five games in the league, and Gazzetta dello Sport shine the light on Østigard in the process.
His recent game against Inter is looked at, where he is described as having been ‘precise and like a rock’, among ‘the best on the pitch’ and that despite having had to face the likes of Alexis Sánchez, Lautaro Martínez and Edin Džeko throughout.
The Brighton loanee is said to have ‘already won the hearts’ of the Genoa fanbase because he ‘doesn’t spare himself, with hard and effective ways’.
Basically, ‘he has that character that is needed to achieve’ the difficult task of avoiding relegation, which ‘to date is still not taken for granted’.
As for the player’s future, his contract at Brighton expires in June, but it’s made clear Genoa’s general manager, Johannes Spors, ‘has known and esteemed him for a long time’, suggesting they could be first in line to offer him a contract and a free transfer.
Then again, he could also do what he did last year, and renew with the Seagulls.
Only time will tell…
