Genoa’s Christian Kouamé was expected to join Crystal Palace in the winter market.
However, the deal never materialised after the forward suffered a cruciate ligament injury in November. Despite the setback, the Serie A side allowed him to join Fiorentina on a loan deal last month.
Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Pradè revealed the 22-year-old had “already been sold to” the Eagles, but the injury setback blocked his move to Selhurst Park.
This allowed his side to acquire the Ivory Coast international’s services on a temporary deal with obligatory buying clause.
Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb had an opportunity to have a chat with Kouamé’s agent, Michelangelo Minieri and he gave his version why the move collapsed.
“With Crystal Palace everything was done and only one document was missing. He was expecting his return from the African Nations Cup. There was an agreement but then it went as it went. It means that it was destined to be this way,” Minieri said.
Kouamé’s agent had a spell at Fiorentina during his playing career and that was also a factor for the attacker to join La Viola.
“In any case, even at times in the past with Christian, we often spoke of Fiorentina as a future hypothesis. He has always liked it and I as an ex viola and knowing the beautiful place I put… the pressure,” the agent explained.
“On this transfer, however, I always believed it because I knew of the great esteem of Pradè towards the boy already at the time when he played at Cittadella.”
