Battle Line: Vieira Meets Balotelli In First Genoa Training Session

Patrick Vieira oversaw his first training session as the new coach of Genoa and reunited with Mario Balotelli after their previous personality clashes.

The former Crystal Palace and Strasbourg boss was appointed today to replace Alberto Gilardino and met his players for the afternoon session at the Villa Rostan camp.

Genoa released several images of Vieira in his first session, including pointedly a picture of him speaking individually to Balotelli.

The pair were teammates at Manchester City and then famously clashed when reunited at OGC Nice, where Vieira was coach and Balotelli a player.

The new boss will make his debut on the bench in a relegation tussle against Cagliari at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, also known as Marassi, on Sunday at 11.30 GMT.

It remains to be seen how he will be greeted, as the Genoa fans were very fond of Gilardino and are protesting his sudden dismissal.