Tag: Venezia

Tessmann ‘out of our project’ at Venezia, says sporting director

The Serie A club appears fed up with the USMNT midfielder

Tanner Tessmann looks like he’ll need to find a new club as soon as possible.

After multiple failed transfers this summer, Venezia sporting director Filippo Antonelli has declared that the American midfielder is no longer part of the club’s project.

Tessmann was one of Venezia’s top performers last season, helping the club secure promotion to Serie A. But rather than staying put as the club moves to the Italian top flight, the 22-year-old has instead been looking for a way out.

The ex-FC Dallas midfielder has been close to joining both Inter and Fiorentina, but the transfers have each collapsed at the final hurdle. Reportedly, the exorbitant demands of Tessmamn’s agents has been at least partially to blame for both transfers falling through.

As Venezia gets ready for its first Serie A game on Sunday against Lazio, Antonelli told Il Gazzettino that the club isn’t able to count on a player who so clearly wants to leave.

“Tessmann is out of our project at Venezia,” Antonelli said.

“It has been a difficult week, try to understand me here. I am above all sorry for the player, as he put himself into this situation. At this moment, he is off the list of players at the disposal of coach Eusebio Di Francesco, but that is his decision and does not depend on us.

“He continues to train with the rest of the squad, but his mind at this moment is just not there. Our approach to Serie A has not changed, we prefer to have players who are strongly motivated to play with the Venezia jersey and fully committed to our project, otherwise it’s better to get someone else.”

The transfer window will be open for another two weeks, with La Stampa reporting this week that Torino, coached by former Venezia manager Paolo Vanoli, could be a possible destination.

If Tessmann isn’t able to find a new home by the end of August, Antonelli wouldn’t rule out the possibility of his reintegration into the team. But he made it clear that the Olympian’s attitude would have to change.

“We’ll see, anything is possible,” he said. “If the transfer window closes and Venezia is the only remaining option, then we’d have to evaluate what to do, but he would need to roll his sleeves up and get back with a completely different attitude.”

[lawrence-related id=79932,79928,79837]

Venezia FC saved from bankruptcy — by Drake?

The Italian side had an unlikely savior during a financial crisis last season

Venezia FC needed a financial hero last season, and it found one in highly unlikely fashion.

The club was riding high in Serie B as it chased promotion, but heavy spending during its 2021-22 campaign in Serie A had put the club on the brink of financial disaster.

Enter Drake. Yes, that Drake.

Drake’s chief brand officer Matte Babel told GQ Italy about a conversation with Venezia co-owner Brad Katsuyama last season.

“I got a call from Brad,” Babel said. “He laid out the problem to me in a simple way: Venezia has to raise €10 million in a couple of weeks, and then at least €30 million in a few months, or the club will go bankrupt.

“Venice is an incredible city and Venezia has always been a special club. I spoke to Drake, then Brad and I discussed the details of how we could help. Within two weeks we had a deal, raised the money needed to pay the salaries and avoid bankruptcy.”

Venezia is now looking to establish itself as a regular in Serie A as it first aims for survival in the upcoming season.

The club should at least look good on the pitch in 2024-25, as it’s signed a kit manufacturing deal with NOCTA, Drake’s apparel line through Nike.

“Matte was my first call when I knew the club needed help,” said Katsuyama. “Drake’s value to any football club is undeniable, given his scale as a global superstar and the reach of his brand. This intersection of culture and sport is exactly where we want to be, and the chance to collaborate with a brand like NOCTA, who is moving along the same lines, is incredibly valuable.”
[lawrence-related id=77648,33601,78410]

USMNT midfielder Tessmann’s move to Inter reportedly collapses

The Venezia midfielder won’t be heading to the San Siro after all

Tanner Tessmann’s transfer to Inter appears to be dead.

The Venezia midfielder has seen his transfer to the Serie A champion collapse, per a report in Tuttosport.

Various reports had suggested that a deal was imminent, but Tessmann’s salary demands, his agents’ fee demands, as well as a lack of an agreement on a loan destination have all reportedly contributed to the move falling apart.

Inter had planned on signing Tessmann and then loaning him abroad for a season. At a press conference on Friday, Venezia sporting director Filippo Antonelli said that the 22-year-old’s move was in danger of falling through due to difficulty nailing down a loan destination

“[The transfer] was closed with the club [Inter]. We wanted to keep the player on loan, but he wants to go elsewhere,” Antonelli said.

“Inter have been looking for a solution but they still haven’t identified which club he could join on loan. The deal may collapse because of this.”

Pro Soccer Wire reported last week that Everton and Feyenoord made last-ditch offers for the U.S. men’s national team midfielder, who has also generated interest from other teams in Italy.

“Torino didn’t call me personally,” Antonelli said. “Como did call me and Fiorentina made an inquiry. His agents say that there are many foreign clubs interested, but they haven’t yet called me.”

Playing alongside fellow American midfielder Gianluca Busio, Tessmann was vital for Venezia last season as the club secured promotion to Serie A by winning the Serie B promotion playoff.

Venezia has allowed both Busio and Tessmann to join up with the USMNT for the Olympics, which begin next week. Antonelli said that in contrast to Tessmann, he was expecting Busio to stay with the club .

“It is certainly a showcase for them,” Antonelli said of the Olympics. “We have taken a step towards the boys, who are very attached to the national team. We have granted this opportunity.

“Tessmann will most likely leave, Busio will most likely stay. He is attached to us, he will still be a protagonist, we think he can be very important. He has grown a lot, perhaps more than Tessmann, he is the one who has grown the most.”

[lawrence-related id=77888,77841,77531]

USMNT Olympic prospect Tessmann reportedly close to Inter transfer

Tessmann could be on the brink of a huge transfer, with the Serie A champions talking to Venezia about a move

U.S. Olympic hopeful Tanner Tessmann may be on the brink of a massive summer transfer.

Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Serie A champions Inter have started transfer talks with Venezia over the 22-year-old.

Tessmann was virtually ever-present for the Venice-based club as it clinched promotion from Serie B this season, playing alongside fellow U.S. under-23 midfielder Gianluca Busio.

The Texas native scored seven times for Venezia, including a spectacular long-range strike against Palermo during the promotion playoffs.

Per the report, Inter and Venezia met on Wednesday, with discussions moving towards the Nerazzuri acquiring Tessmann and then loaning him back to the Venetians for the 2024-25 season.

Tessmann’s performance didn’t just catch Inter’s eye. Rumors have connected Bologna and Torino to interest in signing the box-to-box midfielder, while Venezia was said to be ready to offer a contract extension.

[lawrence-related id=73154,74218,72578]

Tessmann goal helps Venezia move one step away from Serie A promotion

Tessmann has been essential for Venezia, and pushed them closer to Serie A with his latest goal

Tanner Tessmann is doing his level best to boost the number of U.S. men’s national team players in Serie A.

The 22-year-old produced a stunning early strike as Venezia defeated Palermo 2-1 in the Serie B promotion playoffs on Friday.

Venezia had missed out on an automatic promotion place by just three points, but are now on the brink of a return to the top flight after spending two seasons in the second tier.

A 1-0 first-leg win at Palermo put Venezia in an excellent position, and Tessmann’s massive goal early in the second leg at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo helped secure a 3-1 aggregate win.

The Texas native took aim from 25 yards, angled off to the right, and overpowered Palermo goalkeeper Mirko Pigliacelli in the fourth minute.

With the win, the leoni alati advanced to face either Cremonese or Catanzaro in a two-legged final, with games scheduled for May 30 and June 2. The other two sides face off on Saturday after a 2-2 draw in the first leg.

Tessmann and Busio both figure to be on coach Marko Mitrović’s Olympic roster this summer. The duo has been essential for Venezia, being two of the club’s three players to play over 3,000 minutes this season. Tessmann’s strike was his eighth goal of the campaign, while Busio has scored six times.

[lawrence-related id=27316,72578,5395]

Gianluca Busio is staying at Venezia after all

“There were offers and interest from other places but my heart is in Venice”

Gianluca Busio has signed a contract extension with Venezia through the 2024-25 season.

After Venezia was relegated to Serie B at the end of last season. the U.S. national team midfielder had been subject to interest from top-flight sides across Europe. However, Busio has now committed to stay put and try to guide Venezia back to Serie A.

“I am really happy to sign a new contract here and I would like to thank everyone who made this possible,” Busio told the club’s official website. “I really enjoyed my first year, the city is amazing and the fans are even better and they’re ready to support us in trying to make it back to Serie A.

“Especially after getting relegated last year, I wanted to be part of the team that will fight for promotion and I am really excited for this year. There were offers and interest from other places but my heart is in Venice and I really wanted to stay here and work for our goal and make the fans happy again.”

The 20-year-old acquitted himself well in Serie A last season, his first campaign in Europe after moving from Sporting Kansas City. Busio made 29 appearances in Serie A last season, starting 23 of those matches.

With Busio staying put, Venezia could now have five Americans on its roster for the upcoming season.

Busio is joined by Andrija Novakovich, Jack de Vries, Tanner Tessmann, and Patrick Leal.

[lawrence-related id=5379,5367,5316]