Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Friday, 09 January 2026, 06:14 / Updated on Friday, 09 January 2026 06:14
Nicholas Stanciu (32 years old), his midfielder Genoalast night kicked the chance of a surprising victory at San Siro against Milan (1-1). coach Daniel De Rossi revealed that he decided that the penalty in the last phase should be executed by the Romanian international, which he used for the first time in the championship since coming to the Rossoblu team.
After 101 days since his last appearance in the championship, 21 minutes with Lazio (0-3) in Genoa, Nicolae Stanciu benefited from the first opportunity to play in the championship after replacing Patrick Vieira with Daniele De Rossi.
415minutes played by Nicolae Stanciu at Genoa, gathered from seven games in Serie A and Coppa Italia, a competition in which he scored his only Italian goal
Recovered from an injury that kept him on the touchline for four games in Serie A, the Romanian midfielder could be a hero at Genoa in the 90th + 9th minute of the game with Milan at “San Siro”.
Grifonul received a shot from 11 meters in the last phase and the one who showed up at the penalty spot was the guest team's eighth.
Stanciu: “I take responsibility for the 2 points lost. I apologize to my colleagues and all Genoa fans”
The captain of the national team made a poor effort and sent the ball wide of Mike Maignan's goal, and the score remained 1-1. Stanciu had also played 71 minutes under De Rossi in the Cup, in a 0-4 loss against Atalanta, on December 3.
The result keeps Genoa in 17th place, just three points above Verona and Fiorentina, who are below the relegation line, while Milan are losing ground to leaders Inter (-3 points).
I took responsibility for the penalty, now I take responsibility for the two points lost. I apologize to my colleagues and all Genoa fans
– Nicolae Stanciu, the Genoa midfielder, on his Instagram account
After the match, Daniele De Rossi jumped to Stanciu's defense: “It was my decision. Seeing the other players on the pitch, I think it was an understandable choice, but mistakes happen in football.
Nicolae Stanciu, after the wasted penalty in Milan – Genoa // PHOTO: Imago Images
De Rossi: “Stanciu has extraordinary qualities and has never lost his professionalism. He trains the best!”
He's a wonderful boy and I'm really sorry he couldn't enjoy that moment. Stanciu hasn't played much, but he trains better than anyone else.
He has extraordinary qualities and has never lost his professionalism. He deserved that joy, just as we all deserved it for the match we played”.
The penalty kick taker? Before the match, I picked two players: Malinovskyi and Martin, but both were substituted. It was my decision because I saw him take penalty kicks and free kicks in training. Stanciu has an incredible leg!
– Daniel De RossiGenoa's coach
Daniele De Rossi (42), the coach of Genoa, the follower of the old fashion
This was the third consecutive penalty missed by Stanciu, after the one with the national team against Kosovo (2-0), on 12.09.2022, in the Euro preliminaries and the one in the match with Sigma Olomouc (1-0) from 4.12.2021, when Stanciu was playing for Sparta Prague.
He has 11 missed penalties out of 27 taken in his career. The last converted penalty was in September 2021 in the Czech Cup in a match Slovan Velvary – Slavia Prague 2-4.
