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Gilardino 'happy to be back' at Fiorentina

Alberto Gilardino spoke of wanting to reach the 200-goal mark in Serie A after rejoining ACF Fiorentina on loan from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande FC.

Having returned to Italy, Alberto Gilardino is hoping to score a double-century of Serie A goals
Having returned to Italy, Alberto Gilardino is hoping to score a double-century of Serie A goals ©Getty Images

ACF Fiorentina have re-signed Alberto Gilardino, the Italy striker returning to the club on loan from Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.

The 32-year-old – a scorer of 59 goals in 143 games for the Viola between 2008 and 2012 – has followed in the footsteps of compatriot Alessandro Diamanti, who also joined the Tuscan side this month having won the 2014 Chinese Super League alongside Gilardino with Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou.

"I'm very happy to be back in Florence," said Gilardino, who left Genoa CFC for China in July. "I find some old friends of mine here and I'm really motivated. I have been away from Italy for only five months, but I'm eager to play again in Serie A. I want to reach the 200-goal mark with this shirt. This club has done great things in recent years and we want to reach the highest levels together."

A member of Lippi's Italy squad that won the FIFA World Cup in 2006, Gilardino has registered 19 goals in 57 appearances for the Azzurri. Thirteenth on the all-time Serie A scorers' list with 174 goals, Gilardino also lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy with AC Milan during his spell with the Rossoneri from 2005 to 2008.

Fiorentina will face Tottenham Hotspur FC in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 next month.

All-time leading Serie A scorers
Silvio Piola - 274 goals
Francesco Totti - 239
Gunnar Nordahl - 225
Giuseppe Meazza - 216
José Altafini - 216
Roberto Baggio - 205
Antonio Di Natale - 201
Kurt Hamrin - 190
Giuseppe Signori - 188
Alessandro Del Piero - 188
Gabriel Batistuta - 184
Giampiero Boniperti - 178
Amedeo Amadei - 174
Alberto Gilardino - 174