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.
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.”
