Gianluca Busio’s immediate future seemed unknown at the start of the summer, but now looks a lot clearer with the American midfielder staying in Italy.
Serie B side Venezia signed Busio to a contract extension through the 2024-25 season, the club announced Sunday. The former Sporting KC homegrown midfielder was linked with a move away from Venezia following its relegation from Serie A last May, but instead will fight to help the club bounce back to the top-flight.
“I am really happy to sign a new contract here and I would like to thank everyone who made this possible,” Busio said in a club interview. “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,” Busio added. “There were offers and interest from other places but my heart is in Venice and I I really wanted to stay here and work for our goal and make the fans happy again.”
Busio officially joined Venezia in August 2021 and went on to total 29 appearances, one goal, and two assists in Serie A last season. His 1,944 minutes played were the fourth-most in the league by a player 21-years-old or younger.
The North Carolina native has earned nine caps with the U.S. men’s national team to date and remains one of many options in Gregg Berhalter’s pool ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Busio and Venezia open their competitive schedule on August 7 against Ascoli in the Coppa Italia first round.
I think it’s a good spot and a good level for him at the moment, and it gets him acclimated to the European world…which as we have often seen, is not an easy transition for Americans for a variety of reasons.
Hopefully he and Tanner Tessman can develop together, get a lot of PT, and work their way back into Serie A or some other Big-5 league.
I’m with Gregg Berhalter on one key aspect of young-player development: dominate where you are…and then take a logical – not hopeful – next step. Once you’ve established you can be a dominant player you’re ready for next, but that moment for Busio is not yet, IMHO.