BALOTELLI: THE OWN GOAL OF BERLUSCONI

I was sure: I wrote that Milan would have bought either Balotelli or Drogba in an article I posted on this blog the 7th of January 2013. Almost a month ago. The fact was as predictable as all Berlusconi's communication strategies. Italian politics and Italian  football are two reality strictly linked since Berlusconi has been both a politician and owner of Ac Milan.  Many dynamics have always been repeating over the last 20 years. So also this time, the fact that Milan would have signed Balotelli was too easy to predict. It is just an attempt to make Milan supporters happier after the summer sales of Ibra and Thiago Silva, with a look at the Italian election day the 24th of February.

But this time I'm not convinced about the goodness of this strategy. I think that this purchase could be negative for Milan and for the political destiny of Berlusconi as well. Basically for three reasons at least:
 1) Less than two weeks ago Berlusconi painted Balotelli as an rotten apple, describing him as a sure source of nuisance to Milan’s squad. He explained repeatedly how  Milan's style wouldn't have been suitable for Balotelli. Now Balotelli is a new Milan’s football player. This lack of consistency, if it was transposed in the political life it could have the effect of  a boomerang for Berlusconi. He could be considered a liar and frankly  it would not be the first time.
2) Italy is living one of the worst moment in its history. The economic crisis that is threatening the country seems to be endless. So I don’t know how possible it is to consider as a  wise decision to spend € 20 million for a “rotten apple”. At least it was a dangerous decision. In fact immediately Berlusconi’s main political opponent from the left wing, Bersani, emphasized  as Berlusconi in such  delicate moment for Italy is involved in situations related exclusively to football.  This time the impression is that even the attempts of the most important Italian newspapers to describe as a “masterpiece” even from a financial point of view the balotelli-deal could be fruitless. Italians are asking: why did Berlusconi decide to sell Ibra and Thiago Silva last summer in accordance with both the financial-fair play and  Italian economic situation, and few months later he spends 20r million euro Balotelli’s purchase? But this is clearly a rhetorical question.
3) Balotelli potentially is a great footballer. But the main risk is that his mad personality does not allow him to become a real champion as Mourhino predicted a few years ago. Balotelli could really be a loose cannon capable of breaking the harmony in Milan’s environment .Another concern may be the charisma of Allegri. The Rossoneri’s coach, in fact, has always shown to have difficulty in managing  difficult and bulky personalities like Ibra, for example.
Three reasons that might be enough to turn the  Balotelli-deal into a sensational own goal for AC Milan and Berlusconi.

GUARDIOLA: CIAO,CIAO ITALY...

Guardiola is the new coach of Bayer Munich. It's official. Even if someone still seems to not believe it. Someone  believes  or  wants to believe, that this is a joke and wonders: How can the inventor of tiki-taka (barcellona's playing style) - the man who transformed many young and talented players in great champions with the same masterly skills with which Gaudi, the great Spanish architect,  used to transform stone and iron in art - move to the cold city of Munich? How can a man used to the strong and robust flavor of Catalan vino “tinto”, convert himself to malted Bavarian beer? Not to mention the independent spirit of Catalonia or the unpredictability of Messi, both  replaced by the rigorous German organization. Why didn’ t Guardiola prefer Italy, a country closer to Spain, rather than Germany? Maybe to lead Inter  or Ac Milan? Italian newspapers have surfed for a long time the wave according to which Guardiola should be the new  Milan or Inter’s coach. Last August, even Corriere della Sera, the most popular Italian newspaper, wrote an article about Guardiola and his intention to buy a villa by  lake Como. That was enough to excite Milan and Inter supporters. There was even who wrote about an agreement between the Spanish coach and Moratti who, after the Mourinho era,  would have chosen only temporary solutions (Benitez, Stramaccioni) waiting for Pep's arrival. A  vain waiting since Pep has signed with Bayern. In my view this was a counter and forward-looking choice. Bayern in fact can guarantee  him  a lavish engagement besides  an economic viability  that no other team in Europe can provide. Bayern is a modern company with the economic account in good standing. The only team in the next few years really be able to afford to buy the greatest champions  according to the strict rules of the financial fair-play wanted by Uefa President Platini. Too precarious are sheiks (City and psg), whose football teams follow their capricious moods, and too long list of coaches sacked  by Abramovich to tempt Pep. And what about Ac Milan and Inter? Let’s not tell jokes: why should a coach like pep chose a country in economic crisis like ours. A football like ours where Berlusconi uses  Milan just to pursuit political purposes and Moratti must pay attention to make Inter’s economic account fit within the parameters of financial fair play? Why should Guardiola prefer the glorious but decaying  San Siro Stadium, to the futuristic Allianz Arena? No reason. In fact, Pep chose Munich. In these times the rich Germany of Angela Merkel is better than the shabby and unstable Italy after the end of Monti government. Impossible to blame Guardiola. His choice was clever and in line with his rational character. Let's not forget that when Guardiola  concluded his experience with Barca as a footballer many years ago he chose the provincial Brescia of Corioni as his new team. A small team but economically healthy during the golden age of the serie A. A smart choice, fully consistent with his actual choice. Italy should rather ask why Guardiola in the past chose the small Brescia and today has snubbed both giants Inter and Milan. To find an answer we should look in the depth of an economic crisis that is seriously threating our country and our football. So, today when I have read in a newspaper  the name of Mourinho as a possible new Ac Milan’s coach I thought: Please stop bullshiting!

IBRA VS MESSI & CR7

According to classical mythology, you shouldn't have too much luck in life if not you could attract the envy of the gods, that eventually  punish you. In this case we are talking about a  football god’s envy . Or about the envy of someone who believes to be a god: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. A fantastic player not so lucky to play in the same era of Messi and Rronaldo. The competition between these two champions  has always obscured, as a long shadow, Ibra’s whole career  and his own reputation as a football player worldwide. Infact Ibra has never been a serious candidate to win the most important prize for a footballer: The Golden Ball Award. Winning  this has almost always been an exclusive duel between Messi and CR7 in the recent years. A disappointment too hard to digest for the hubris of Ibra, who would have thought then to take his revenge releasing two incredible statements according to the Portuguese website O ' Jogo. The first target was Cristiano: : "He has always witnessed the Golden Ball Award as a privileged spectator sitting  in  front row, there are at least 10 footballers better than him", was Zlatan's poisoned comment. Not exactly a cuddle for the Portuguese champion". The second target was Messi: "He continues to win Golden Balls, but he can’t  get a chocolate from a machine without climbing a ladder." A really childish joke. It's the same as if someone had asked Messi: “ What do you think about Ibra as a football player?”. And he had answered: "Ibra has a long nose.” Two children could easily have had a more clever discussion. But Messi probably is more mature than the Swedish player. He is not envious like Ibra seems to be. He has no reason to be. Lionel in fact is not a god from Greek mythology. Messi is a  modern god that, thanks to the 4 Golden Balls won, despite his hight, is taller than everybody. He is on the top of Olympus of the gods of football without  ever  having used any ladders climbing up.

BALOTELLI, DROGBA AND THE POLITICAL DESTINY OF ITALY

Can Drogba or Balotelli change the political destiny of Italy? Be calm, I'm not drunk. I’m sober. I know, the question could seem to be absurd. And it would be really absurd If we were not talking about Italy. Specifically about the Italy in love with football. That part of Italy that has always loved to mix the sacred with the profane. Italy that sometimes does not recognize the border between soccer and politic. Between a team and a political party. Between being a citizen and being a fan. Football in the country of pasta and capuccino is important. So important that sometimes it makes someone convinced to be able to move the political balance of the country and to subvert the electoral predictions during last minute of the football transfer- market's session. That someone is Berlusconi, who, despite all scandals, still remain a great communicator. He is able to touch the right feelings to rekindle the enthusiasm of the typical italian citizen. So, the purchase of a top-player in January could rekindle the enthusiasm of more or less 6,000,000,000 rossoneri fans, maybe putting them in a position to write on the paper, on next 24 of febraury, the election day in Italy, the name of Silvio Berlusconi and the name of his party. So to prove to him their gratitude. Fans, is known, are irrational animals and they are also capable of such things. It would not be the first time. In the past, Berlusconi has shown to use ac Milan as a fantastic device of communication such as to satisfy his business and political needs. Since the time of the great Milan of Arrigo Sacchi, until the Berlusconi’s spectacular arrivals to Milanello (Ac Milan headquarter) by helicopter, ac Milan have always contributed to build Berlusconi’simage. In may 1994 when Berlusconi started his political adventures he chose both the name and the hymn of his party that seemed more suitable to a new football team than to a new political party. The Silvio’s message was: I won everything possible with ac Milan so I’ll be successful in leading Italy as well. History has taught us that football and politics are two different things. And the successes he obtained with ac Milan are in contrast with the failure of Italy as a nation under Berlusconi government . But football in italy is a drop that according to Berlusconi's hopes will be big enough to give new life to the his image tarnished by recent scandals. Berlusconi is too sly to not try to surprise Milan’s fans again as when, a few years ago, he stopped the sale of Kakà’ to Manchester City at the last moment so as to receive back the gratitude of rossoneri fans. The election day is so close to the winter session of football transfert market that, I’m sure, Silvio, once again, will pull out the rabbit from the hat. So pay attention to Drogba or Balotelli. Two names that during the election campaign might be more useful than some television appearances. Two important names more determinant in terms of communication than in concrete for ac Milan, that haven’t the weak spot in attack but rather in defense and in midfield. But that's not the point. According the presidential auspices , Balotelli or Drogba, should score in the game on 24 of February, in the polling booth. A game that if Berlusconi wins also thanks to football, thanks to the purchase of a single football player would be a defeat for all Italy in terms of political and civic maturity. I can’t think that there is anyone, in such a difficult time for Italy , that can and will make a choice as important as the political vote depending by their passion for football. Even if in Italy football is more than a passion. And Berlusconi knows it.

ITALIAN FOOTBALL ONCE UPON A TIME

The worst of Italian serie A: the derby of Milan. A game that should have been  the best spot for our national football and instead it’s become  the symbol of the decay of the our national league. A faded and merciless picture of the current situation in Italian football. The golden age (the 80’-90’) has become the tin-age. From Van Basten and Ronaldo to Gargano and De Jong. In other words: from  violins to trombones. Inter won the match against Milan but Italian football lost.  It was sad  to see Bojan, promising talent during his Barcelona period, slipping as a sack of potatoes, a few steps from glory.

Inter’s defensive and dismissive attitude able to spend 90 minutes behind the ball line hoping for some occasional breakaway was an insult to football. 

Is Stramaccioni (Inter’s coach) or isn’t he one of the youngest coach in Europe? Yes, he is. But apparentely his ideas are older than him. He still lives in Trapattoni or Nereo Rocco’s era. This is unacceptable! I miss Ronlado’s dribblings and  I miss Van Basten’s dance with the ball on San siro’s pitch. But I also miss Arrigo Sacchi’s courage. The memories of the Italian football’s golden age are too fresh  to get used to this sad metamorphosis. San Siro isn’t the Scala of football anymore. It has become a provincial theater where untalented but well-publicized  actors perform. The lights of San Siro are turned off, as the verse of an old and famous Italian song says. How to switch on the spotlights again? It’s not true that the only thing we need is money from Russian tycoons like in Premiere League. We  need more programming and foresight as well. The Verratti case,  the brightest talent of Italian football went to play in France, this is the most tangible evidence.

THE KNIGHT AND THE OLD LADY

The knight and the Old Lady. It seems like the title of a medieval novel, but it´s really a modern story. A romantic and emotional story. The story between Alex Del Piero and Juventus. A nineteen year old relationship that started in 1993 when the president of Juventus was Giampiero Boniperti - another emblem of the black and white club' story. In those days Del Piero was shy and skinny but he was already talented. 19 years full of many successes, disgracefules (terrible knee injury and Serie B) like in a true and long marriage. Del Piero has scored 318 goals surpassing every record in Juventus´ story. Del Piero is the fotball player that is most loved by Juventus supporters. More than Platini, more than Zidane, and more than Omar Sivori. Del Piero IS Juventus and Juventus IS Del Piero. 

The knight faithful to the Old Lady also when she did't seem so attractive (when Juve was relagated in Serie B) and many other young pretenders tried to seduce him. And the old lady was faithful to the knight also when he didn't seem so strong anymore because of the terrible knee injury in 1999 that could stop Del Piero´s carreer. An undissolubile union so far at least through 19 years. A romantic story comes to an end. The problem is that the divorce forcasted for next year isn´t consensual. Del Piero in fact still wants to love and to defend the old lady. He feels good and strong enough to prepare the return in Campions League with Juventus despite his almost 38 years. His fantastic performances against Milan and Inter in the last weeks have showed us that Del Piero is right. He can continue his carrer. He´s still able to score significant and decisive goals. The problem is that the old lady aim to renew her image with young football players trying to find the new Del Piero. Juventus´ president, Andrea Agnelli announced some months ago during a reunion of Juventus shareholders that this season  will be Del Piero´s last season in Juventus. A  "urbi et orbi" statement that wounded the tender heart of the the strong knight Del Piero. Juventus isn´t anymore the old lady he met almost 20 years ago. At that time football was more romantic and values still existed. The old lady was a faithful wife with whom you spent the whole life with. 

Now football is business and the club are focused on turnover and profit. No space for feelings anymore. so Juve just think about their future. A future without Del Piero from next year on. In my view this is mistake for two at least two reasons: 1) Del Piero has showed able to sit on the bench without complaints  and he has showed to be ready when Conte puts him in the field - scoring decisive goals. 2) Del Piero presence in the locker room is charismatic and his figure is able to lead the young football players teaching them what playing for Juventus means. Del Piero is a monument that commands respect and mantains order in a team full of new aspiring leaders. These are the reasons why I think it would be right that the knight and the old lady stay toghether also without the passion of a time ago. It´s only another year. 20 years sounds better than 19.

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