Maxwel Cornet’s loan journey at Genoa has been nothing short of a disaster. What was meant to be a fresh start for the Ivorian winger has instead turned into a frustrating chapter marked by persistent injuries, limited minutes, and managerial instability — all while West Ham continue to cover 75% of his reported £3.38m annual wages.
Cornet returned to Genoa for the 2025/26 season after a brief spell there earlier in 2025, during which he made seven appearances under then-manager Patrick Vieira. The move was seen as a chance for the 29-year-old to reignite his career after a difficult time at West Ham, where he struggled to establish himself following a £17 million switch from Burnley in 2022.
However, his second Serie A loan spell has been plagued by the same issues that have haunted his entire career — injuries and inconsistency.
Injuries Mount as Minutes Dwindle
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This season, Cornet has made just three appearances, totalling only 74 minutes for Genoa.
Across both loan spells in Italy, he has missed 159 days through injury, including muscular problems, strains, a calf injury, and abductor pain.
His wider career record makes for grim reading. In his first season at West Ham, Cornet missed 152 days with a calf injury, ruling him out of 31 matches. And back in the 2018/19 season at Lyon, he suffered six separate injuries, missing 14 games in total.
Genoa’s decision to part ways with Patrick Vieira—who had personally backed Cornet’s return—has only added to the instability. There are growing concerns that a new manager may attempt to terminate the loan early, sending the winger back to the London Stadium. That would be déjà vu for Cornet, whose loan at Southampton was previously cut short due to fitness concerns.
With his West Ham contract running until 2027 and his Genoa move floundering, Cornet’s future hangs in the balance.
[Claret & Hugh](https://www.claretandhugh.info/category/news/) spoke to a club source about the situation and whether West Ham might recall him. We were told bluntly:
“They wouldn’t want him back — he can’t get a game there.”
Yet, back in September, another insider told us that the loan move was agreed because:
“West Ham need him playing.”
For now, both clubs — and Cornet himself — will be hoping the second half of the season brings better fitness, more minutes, and maybe even a revival. But time is running out