E.T., AN EXTRA TERRESTRIAL IN ITALIAN FOOTBALL

The Italian football enters officially a new era. Erick Thohir is the man who inaugurates this new age for the Serie A.
Who is he?  He is an Indonesian tycoon who took over Inter Milan some months ago, paying around 300 milion euro in return for 70 % of the Italian club.

It would have been impossible to imagine this epochal change only three years ago. At that time, in-fact, Inter conquered the historical "triplete", winning the Champions League together with the Italian League, plus the National Cup. That season represents both the apex and the end of the Massimo Moratti´  s presidential era. It´s  like a man winning the lottery and immediately later dies of a heart attack.

Let's try now to explain better this "bloody" example.

Massimo Moratti, Inter´s former owner, needed more than 20 years leading the "nerazzurri" to reach those prestigious results. During this period, the Milanese oilman piled up a 300 milion euro debt, so that the banks decided to shut off money taps. That is why the Italian tycoon was forced to sell the club. The only entrepreneur interested in taking on Inter in such bad economic conditions, was Erick  Thohir, whom suddenly the Italian-press nicknamed E.T. (from his initials)  like the famous Steven Spielberg movie´Extra Terrestrial.

Erick Thoir, in fact, in his own way, is an extra terrestrial, at least for Italian football. He is the first foreign business-man to own such a prestigious Italian football team. He comes from Indonisia, which really would be as another planet if  we made a comparison with Italy. Not to mention, that part of Italy in love with football. Football, in fact, is a different planet within the Italian galaxy. Football has its own rules, which most of the time are dictated from the reasons of heart, instead of the reasons of money.

Unfortunately, it is well known how love and reason have always been fighting. Basically, it's this the reason why it is very difficult for businnes-men to deal with football, especially with Italian football.
 E.T. doesn't seem to be an exception: he has just landed on the Italian football planet, and, as a neophyte, is making several mistakes.

First of all: he is too clear and sincere. In Italian football, pinocchio-land, this quality can represent a defect. When, for example, he admits that Inter will need 3 years at least, to be able to win again, he is making a huge mistake. The football supporters are not known to be patient at all. They want all at once. One year without victory can be too much!

2) Thohir, as an extra terrestrial, should allow Inter supporters to know him better, to break down prejudices and preconceptions. Just one week spent in Milano, releasing several interviews, as Tohoir does, are not enough to be accepted in the Inter family. Inter supporters are used to seeing their former president, Massimo Moratti answering journalists´questions every day or seeing him every single match at the San Siro Stadium. Thohir should be more present in Milano.

3) So, failing all these things, there is just one way to make Inter supporters happier: Thohir, in this winter transfer window, should buy, a great football player, in order to show him as a visiting card.

Football fans, in-fact are not interested in speeches regarding economic accounts, break eaven points, or turnover as the Indonesian tycoon usually loves doing. Sometimes E.T. seems to be more a young student of economy, fresh out of University, than a passionate president.

4) Not to mention his original sin:  he hasn't been an Inter supporter from birth! A sin, which in difficult time like this, could be unforgivable.

To make the situation worse are Inter´s performances that, since E.T.´ s arrival, are getting catastrophic. The team is reflecting the club´s situation, where there aren't directors in charge to represent Inter in front of TV or in the corridors of power. In short, Inter is a club, which is completely off  the rails.

Now, E.T. should follow just one way: he has to adapt his "modus agendi" to the Italian football philosophy. Otherwise, he will start feeling homesick very soon, exactly as the extra terrestrial E.T. did in the Steven Spielberg´movie. But with a different end of the story: in the movie ET was helped returning back home by his human friends in tears for sorrow. Thohir, instead, risks being kicked out of Italy, by furious Inter´s supporters.

Even if they never should forget how this Indonesian, despite not being Inter´s supporter since he was child, saved Inter from bankruptcy, paying around 300 milion euro!

DOMENICO BERARDI: THE NEW ITALIAN FOOTBALL STAR

He idolizes Lionel Messi, but his way of playing reminds more about Arien Robben´s style. Who is he? I don´t want to keep my readers on pins and needles. I´m talking about Domenico Berardi, the 19 years old Italian promising talent, who yesterday shot down Ac Milan, scoring 4 goals. An unforgettable night that made him part of the Italian football history: Berardi is now the only player  to have scored four goals against Milan in Serie A's 85-year history and the second youngest player after the myth Silvio Piola, to have scored four goals in serie A. 

Yesterday night performance wasn´t just a fortuity: Berardi, infact, is known to be  a pure talent. He is a "winning horse" on whom Juventus decided to bet last year, after seeing his season in Serie B (11 goals scored in total). The "Bianconeri" hold the co-ownership of Berardi together with Sassuolo. It is easy to guess how Berardi´s performance yesterday made Juve proud. The new Italian talent, in fact, showed an incredible gifts´ repertoire against Ac Milan , scoring four magnificent and stylistic different goals:
1) Firstly, he rounded Christian Abbiati scoring from a narrow angle.

2) He scored with an impressing half-volley.
3) He passed through two defenders just before "mowing down" Abbiati.

4) Finally, Berardi transfixed Milan´s goalkeeper, the fourth time, with a deflected shot.

Yesterday night exploit, as told above, is not a surprise for who knows Domenico as a promising football player. Berardi has had a crystalline talent since he was a teen-ager. Such a pure talent which was impossible to not be noted.

HIS STORY

To reveal Berardi´ story is Luciano Carlino, who actually works as a Sassuolo Youth team´s vice-coach, in a nice interview realised to Tuttosport. He as a first, discovered Domenico as a football prodigy in 2010.

"Berardi´s brother Francesco is a friend of mine - Carlino tells. At that time he studied in Modena. As usual every wednesday we used to organize five a side football matches. On one occasion, Francesco invited Domenico (aged 14) to join us: we looked at him with our mouthes open. We saw a phenomenon!  His left shots were so precise to end all in the top corner of the goal. I decided immediately to make him take a test with Sassuolo: In 20 minuts the "Neroverdi" Sport Director decided to sign him", Carlino concludes the story.

SKILLS

Carlino`s story is ended, but Berardi´s tale is just started. It is sure! His qualities are too evident to make yesterday night match just a nice exception. Berardi is equipped with a good physical structure (180 x 74). He is dynamic and powerful at the same time. He is quite fast, in particular in the first 10 meters. His pace reminds of Robben´ s pace and his left shot is pure dynamite. Like Robben, Berardi is an offensive winger, preferably in a 4-3-3, but he can also play as a striker to suggest the penetrating passing.

FUTURE

All these qualities should guarantee a great future to Berardi. I´ m optimistic about him and his career, basically for two reasons: 1) It is said that Domenico is not just a very good football-player, but he is also a clever and humble guy. That´s why he should not follow Cassano or Balotelli in their footprints. 2) Berardi, in the next future, will probably play for Juventus, which has always been the most severe and strict Italian club. Juve still represents a secure lead for young football players and the perfect habitat to nurture talents.

DREAMS

Keep going in this way, Berardi could also hope to take part in the next World Cup in Brazil, the same competition in which his idol Messi and  his most famous "alter ego" Arien Robben will be involved . Dreams sometimes can come true. A night like yesterday is the concrete proof.

IN THE POST HERE BELOW, THE VIDEO!

Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) scores a poker (all 4 goals) vs AC Milan HD

ITALY WOMEN´S NATIONAL CURLING TEAM: LET` S DISCOVER IT!

This article, which I wrote around one month ago after the European Curling Championship in Stavanger, represents an exception for this blog, basically based on football. This article is an interview with Italy women´s National Curling Team. A «gaggle» of young women involved in trying to put in the spotlight this sport on the ice, which has not been so well known in Italy yet. 
We could say  that these girls, in their own way, are sport pioneers. And as pioneers they are brave, unconventional and challenging. I have always had a passion for out of the common-people. Practising curling in Italy, where football throw his weight around, is, in my view, something both out of the ordinary and brave. That´s why I want to give my readers the opportunity to know these passionate girls better and, why not, through them discover curling as an interesting sport. Here below, the article:

The curtain is fallen on the European Curling Championship in Stavanger. So, now, for all the 49 teams which took part in the competition held in Sørmarka Arena, it´s time  to take stock of their experience in the European Championship and draw conclusions for the future. 
Sweden and Swizerland, winners in the female and male tournament, respectively, are obviously going to enjoy the taste of glory. On the contrary, for the women´s Italian National team, ranked at the last place in graduation, the moment to understand what went wrong, has arrived. 

The Italian head quarter is located in a hotel in the heart of Stavanger. The Italian National team´s components look relaxed, sitting around and playing cards. Nevertheless, it´s just a facade. They, really, remind about lions licking their wounds.

DISAPPOINTMENT

«We are disappponted with the result» Arianna Losano, lead of the team,  croaks. It is barely more than a whisper. But soon the tone of her voice become more confident: «We wanted to reach something more, but we were at the first experience at this level» she tries to give as a possible explanation. «We were really tense» adds Veronica Zappone (skip). Italians are very emotional and sensitive people, so it´s not difficult to believe in this honest examination of the competition. 

Autocriticism is an important quality, for both life and sport which helps to improve and grow up. The Italian girls show to possess it, despite being  the youngest team in the competition. The "Azzurre" are looking inward to be aware of their limits in order to go beyond them. One of the secrets of the Italian team´s wisdom is surely the coach, Lucilla Macchiati. 
Here is the proof: when one of the young component of the team starts complaining about the quality of the ice (It was too soft, she says), the coach, up to that point silent and respectful of the interview, admonishes her: «Finding an alibi is not the right way to face a sport competition like this",  she says, disguising firmness as a maternal advice. In short, the message in a bottle is: No excuse, please!

Finally  when the team is asked about the experience in Stavanger from  a personal level,  the disappointment shades immediately into happiness.

STAVANGER WHAT A COOL CITY!

In particular, the Italian team is in love with Stavanger: «It´s a friendly-people city. It´s nice. We prefer it to Oslo where we have already been. People are so polite! Not to mention the volonteers and the perfect organization of the tournament. It was without a shadow of doubt a great event. A great competition held in a modern structure. «The arena is amazing. We are a bit jealous of the curling structure in Stavanger. It would be great, if we had the same in Italy" is the honest admission of all the Italian team. «Maybe in the future we could move here» some of the girls don´t descart the opportunity. They seem to say: «Goodbye Stavanger, see you soon or later»

NEW CHALLENGES & DREAMS

In the next future there are the qualifications to the winter Olimpic Games in Sochi. It´s a dream, but it´s not the only one. «I would like to be an airplane pilot», confesses Elisa Patono (second). «I would like to be a physioterapist» echoes another team-mate. 

After all, they know how to make dreams come true: it´s important the committment and the hard work in order to avoid any regrets. Exactly the same happens with curling. When that heavy stone made of  granite, just as life does, takes curvilinear and unpredictable trajectories which players try to influence by the action of curling brooms: sometimes they are able to bring the stone where they want, sometimes not. All that matters is giving your best. In sport and in life!

FREDDY GUARIN: A WILD JAGUAR FOR CHELSEA

Freddy Guarin is running away from Inter Milan.
The Jaguar, it´s Guarin´s nickname, is ended up in Jose´Mourinho´s sight.
The Chelsea boss, putting himself into the shoes of a hunter, is ready to "capture" the black jaguar, Guarin in the January transfer window.

The deal is almost sealed: Inter director Marco Branca and Mourinho laid the foundation of the agreement in London around 10 days ago. Chelsea would be willing to pay up to 15 million euro for Guarin. An amount, which Inter board would consider fully satisfying.

Now, the question is: why should the new Inter owner, Erick Thohir, let Guarin go away?

Let´s try to figure out a possible explanation.

E.T. is an Indonesian entrepreneur, who works in the mass media and communication environment. He is a type of Berlusconi´s Indonesian "alter ego". For this reason, he looks out for public opinion, in particular during the first period of his presidency. Thohir, in fact, is still trying to build a popular support within Inter supporters, who still seem to be skeptical regarding the new ownership.

Therefore, Freddy Guarin´s selling could be a double edged sword.

On the one hand, trading the Colombian midfielder,  in return for 15 milion euro, could allow Inter to purchase new football players in the winter transfer window. On the other hand, Guarin´s  abdication could cause the Inter supporters´disappointment.

Anyway, is Guarin such a popular and loved player to cause consternation in Inter fans?
Not at all, is the easy answer.

Guarin, in fact, is one of the most detested football players by a consistent part of Inter supporters. Despite his triumphal arrival last season from Porto, the Colombian is actually sonorously whistled during his performances in the San Siro Stadium.

Guarin is not a complete dud, Chelsea supporters keep calm, but he is an anarchic player.
He is a sort of football player to whom a coach can´t easily find a position on the pitch.
Guarin is a wild jaguar!
He is a midfielder, but he can be neither a central midfielder nor a back miedfielder: he tends to attack and he never keeps the position. Guarin is an advanced midfielder or an insight forward. He is in particular at ease going on the counterattack. So, Mourinho´s style could be tailored for him.
Nevertheless, the 27 years old Columbian has a terrible flaw: he is extremely selfish: he never passes the ball to his team-mates, even though they are in an enviable position, on the field, to score.
Guarin is provided with a powerful long distance shot. This quality brings him to try the shot even from a sidereal distance, missing the mark most of the time. That´s why some Inter supporters presented an ironic petition on the web  to stop Guarin´s tries. According to Inter´s fans, the Columbian´s shots, out of target, would threaten the lives of spectators sitting on the stands.

Now, it´s up to Murinho to tame the Colombian Jaguar (or, if you prefer, Colombian crazy horse) in the Stamford Bridge circus.

WAS IT A TURKISH TRICK TO CONDEMN JUVE?

Juventus were knocked out of Champions League after a two-days lasting match against Galatasaray.
The Tuesday-night match was, in-fact, suspended after just 27 minutes because of a strong snowfall/hailstorm which made impracticable the pitch.
Immediately, Uefa decided to postpone the clash to the day after, starting it again in the 27th minute. A cursory decision due to the last-sixteen´s draw, on the agenda for the next monday, which didn´t get the situation better. On Wedensday, infact, the Telekom Arena´s field was in terrible condition due to the persistency of the bad weather.

Surely the pitch wasn´t worthy of a Campions League clash. In particular one half of the pitch looked like a newly plowed field. "Strangely", it was the part of the field on which It were up to Juve to attack for the most of the match´s remaining time.

Now, both italian supporters and newspapers are instilling a doubt: did Galatasaray decide deliberately to make impracticable Juventus´ attack zone?

The fact that the other part of the field was greener and more decent to play football on seems to strengthen the conspiracy thesis.

Anyway, conspiracy or not conspiracy, finally Juventus were not able to attack nor to go on counter attack.

Frankly, when the ball can neither normally roll nor bounce on the pitch, and the only way to play football is the full toss, it´ s another type of sport, but it´s not football. Maybe "it is hide and seek" as Juventus coach Antonio Conte said after this strange match.

If someone now is thinking that Conte is just a bad-loser, it would be correct also to report the Juve coach´s  further statement: "This match should not have been played. Anyway, we lost the chance to qualify for the last sixteen before the game against Galatasaray", Conte honestly admitted. His reference, clearly  was to the away draw VS Copenhagen.

JUVE-REAL: THE OPPOSITE POLES

Not later than one month ago Juventus faced Real Madrid in an exciting and prestigious Champions League clash. A draw, 2-2, was the final result after a breathtaking match. Apparently nothing special happened, in particular if we consider the story of these two clubs. A common past made of several victories and balanced matches between these two giants of football. Nevertheless, this final result  sounds incredible if we compare the costs of both the lines up. A comparison that evidences two opposite philosophies on how to manage a football club now-days.
On the one hand there are Real Madrid, which can count on a record turnover (more than 500.000.000 euro represent the top for a football club all over world). Despite these sensational numbers, according rumors rumbled from sources close to Real, the «Merengues» would «show off» a gigantic debt: 520 million euro! A debt which can be mostly ascribed to the purchasing of football players for an absolute fortune.
On the other hand there are Juventus, whose management is pursuing a completely different strategy: the main goal for Juve´s President, Andrea Agnelli, is to reach the break even point, in the name of which it is absolutely forbidden to spend a crazy amount for a single football-player.

So let´s take a concrete look at these two different philosophies:  we are going to exam the cost of both Real and Juve´s lines up during the last Champions League clash:

The only parameter we are going to consider is the cost for each football-player with the exception of both the goalkeepers. The final result is unbelievable.
Let´s start from Real Madrid:

Marcelo: 5 milion €
Varane: 10 mln €
Pepe: 30 mln €
Sergio Ram:os 24 €
Khedira: 12 mln €
Xabi Alonso: 31 mln €
Modric: 26.500 mln €
C. Ronaldo: 94 mln €
Bale: 101 €
Benzema 31 €

Total: 364 mln €

JUVENTUS:

Caceres: 7 mln €
Barzagli: 0
Bonucci: 13 mln €
Asamoha 16 mln €
Pogba: 0
Pirlo: 0
Vidal: 11 mln €
Marchisio: 0
Tevez: 9 mln €
Llorente: 0

Total: 56 mln €

DIFFERENCE: 308 mln €

The moral is: through skills and parsimony it is possible to pursuit the idea of an economically sustainable football!

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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JUVE: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. OF ANDREA LAMBS.

There are many different silences.  Sometimes someone keep silent because he has nothing  to say. There is the silence of the guilty.  That type of silence that’s just waiting to be broken by some noise, as when a seagull suddenly scream in the wind on a sandy beach during winter. There’s the embarrassing silence  between two young lovers without experience. And there’s the silence of the lambs like the title of a famous movie. In Italian football  the silence of the lambs means the silence of Juve.  Because Lambs in Italian is Agnelli - the surname of Juventus’ president Andrea. Agnelli  ordered  all Juventus’ employees to keep silence as a protest against the referees . The silence of the lambs  also means the  Juventus’ silence  because the Italian giant feel innocent and victimized just like poor lambs led to the slaughter house. A sportive slaughter where the dream of glory of 12 million of Juventus supporter is dying . The news blackout decision was in fact a decision taken by Juventus owner after the draw between Genoa and Juventus. A match where Juventus deserved to win  but once again they weren’t able to score goals because of the imprecision of their strikers, but also because of  bad luck. Bad luck disguised also as many referee mistakes. In fact during the match against Genoa referee Rizzoli failed to give a regular goal scored by Pepe (in the pic below) and he didn’t give a penalty for a fault on Matri.

Two enormous mistakes that made Juventus angry. So angry that they remained  without words.  A silence of someone who feels victimized. A silence of protest.  Juventus bemoan the lack of equity of the referee’s judgment. So far in fact Juventus have had just  one useless penalty (against Cesena) despite having an average ball possession of almost 60 % per match. It’s strange. The bad decisions that referees have taken against Juventus so far are more than at least 10.  Some of these mistakes are really evident like the penalties not given to Juve during the matches against Inter , Parma and Siena. Mistakes that in terms of classification mean less points. Points that could be decisive for the challenge to win the Italian title. What Juventus and their supporter think is that the Turin club are still paying for the Italian scandal called Calciopoli in 2006. For that scandal Juventus was relegated to Serie B and lost 2 scudetti. A tough punishment unlike other clubs like Milan, Lazio or inter that was even awarded with a scudetto never won.  Juventus has already paid for their faults (?) and now they don’t want to continue paying for it. Juventus  is in fact convinced that whenever a referee is in doubt he prefers to whistle against Juve. I think what is happening in Serie A is absolutely this. Regardless of which team you support we can’t accept this  type of behavior because those who have already paid for their sins shouldn’t continue to pay indefinitely. I think this is the meaning of  the silence of Juve. The silence of the lambs. The silence Of Andrea Lambs.

AVB: THE AVATAR OF MOU

Porto, Chelsea and Inter: this is Mourinho’ s cv before going to Real Madrid . But it could be AVB’s cv as well, if Inter decide to hire him in the place of coach Ranieri. Jose Mourinho seems to be in the destiny of Andre Villas Boas who appears tied to Josè by a transparent thread.  He’s what Watson is for Sherlock Holmes or what Robin represents for Batman.  He is the vice. It’s his destiny  to live in reflected light. After splitting up from Mou as his vice coach, AVB  is in fact  accustomed to retrace  Mou’s path: Porto, Chelsea and maybe also Inter. Even though sometimes without reaching the same results like his experience at Chelsea taught us. But Moratti, Inter’s  president, doesn’t seem to be interested in this. He wants to repeat again the fantastic moments passed with Mourinho and he’s convinced that the right person to achieve this  difficult target is Andre Villas Boas. The Mourinho Avatar.

Maybe because of the same Portuguese nationality or because  AVB was  the vice of Mou, but anyway Moratti aim to hire the bearded coach. He’s young and good enough looking to sit on Inters bench. And even if Moratti has never forgotten Mourinho  AVB could be a good  surrogate.

At the moment  Moratti  is like a husband unable to forget his wife after splitting up with her. Wounded lovers always look for something similar to the former gf or wife. Blonde like her, extrovert like her, some even choose to stay with their ex gf’s sister. The problem is that  this type of relationship are often temporary and doomed to finish at the first difficulty. Villas boas should be aware of this. Mourinho is another person and he  will always have another story. I think this is one of the main problem for Andre Villas Boas and the main reason of his failure at Chelsea. If AVB will go where Mou was he will always be a spare wheel. He will never be loved like he deserves. In fact Porto, Chelsea or inter could love  him because he smells like Mourinho, seems like Mou and wins almost like him. The comparison with mou is too hard to handle for  Villas Boas and he will never be able to do better than Mou who at Inter wan all he could . If AVB continue to follow in Mou’s footprints he will only be able to win the Oscar as best supporting actor and when he loses he will be defined as the bad copy of Mourinho. So I give him an advice: Please,  stop following Mou. His shadow is too big. 

Andrè, try to be independent. This is the only way to find true love and this is why Inter isn’t a good choice for you.

IBRA: THIS IS A REAL TRAGEDY

Ibrahimovic defined Muntari's disallowed goal as a tragedy for football. Later, during a training with the Swedish National team he injured team mate Majstorovic' s knee ligaments forcing him to miss Euro 2012. Now this is a real tragedy...

 

BUFFON: TOO SINCERE TO BE ITALIAN

Italy’s the country of Pinocchio, the woody puppet of the story written by Carlo Collodi. Pinocchio used to lie and every time he told a lie his nose got longer. Italian people seems to be worthy sons of Pinocchio. They love telling lies and they especially seem to love if someone tells them lies. Sometimes I think that in Italy everything is the opposite of how it should be. Italian people prefer hearing lies instead of the truth. This happens in politics where there’s always a competition between who tells the most unbelievable  story. But it  also happens in football, where for example if someone tries to be honest he detonates a scandal. This is what happened with Gigi Buffon, Juventus and Italian national team goal keeper. He’s one of the strongest goalkeeper of the history. But besides being a great goalkeeper Buffon is also known as a genuine person. So he was sincere  when, during  the Milan-Juve match last Saturday, the referee failed to award Milan’s Muntari a goal when the goal-bound header clearly crossed the line without being awarded: “”Even if I had seen the ball inside I would never have confessed it”, Buffon admitted.

He said what all other football players would have done. But in Italy, a country where being a liar is the rule, telling the truth is a terrible sin. Buffon, the captain of our national team, was in fact immediately criticized.  TV programs (in particular TV channels belonging to Berlusconi), sports institutions, and politician were all against Buffon.  Everyone pointed the finger at him. There’s also who wants to remove him from role as the captain of the  Italian national team. All this because he attempted to be sincere. An absurdity. The typical fake Italian moralism that makes me disgusted.  I’m happy to agree with Buffon. Let’ s try to imagine what could have happened if Buffon would have confessed that the ball was inside the goal: He would be a traitor towards his team mates in a fundamental match of the season. Buffon is just a football player who plays for Juventus. His mission is to make Juventus win.  Buffon doesn’t  want to be a saint. The people just ask him  to save as many goals as possible.  Italian people should  ask  the politicians- many of which are railing against Buffon - to be honest. “Who is without sin casts the first stone”, a Bible quote that someone should remember more often. Anyway I have a suspicion: criticism against Buffon are useful to hide the insults that Milan’s CEO,  Adriano Galliani made at the referee in a forbidden place- the changing rooms,  during the break of the match. Sometimes for my journalist colleagues, politicians and media it’s  easier to criticize the behavior of a goalkeeper telling the truth, than the one of a powerful manager like Adriano Galliani,  that tries to influence the referee during an important match like Milan-Juve.

Sometimes, I think, Italy is not only the country of Pinocchio but also the one of Don Abbondio,  the cowardly and opportunistic character in an Italian literature masterpiece called “Promessi Sposi”  written by Alessandro Manzoni.

MILAN: A FOOTBALL-BOXING TEAM

During the past few games Milan's football players seem to use their hands as well as their feet...If you don't believe it watch videos below...

1) MUNTARI (Cassius Clay) VS LICHTSTEINER during Milan-Juve

2) MEXES VS BORRIELLO during Milan-Juve

3) IBRA VS STORARI after Juve-Milan (First leg of Tim Cup)

4) IBRA VS ARONICA during Milan-Napoli

MARIO LOVES HER BUT CESARE DOESN’ T LOVE HIM

Mario, Raffaella and Cesare. These aren’t the leading actors of a new Italian TV show. It isn’t a love triangle. But the three characters are anyway connected. Let’s  see why.  Mario is Mario Balotelli. He’s living a magic moment made of goals and love. From  bad boy he’s transformed into a boy in love. This seems to be Balotelli’s metamorphosis. A change that doesn’t seem  to damage his talent: In fact in the last turn of Premier League he scored the first goal of Manchester City’s 3-0 success against Blackburn after his 4 matches ban. An important  goal. The goal of his rebirth. A goal to dedicate to his girlfriend Raffaella Fico, famous in Italy for her participation at Big Brother and  for wearing a skimpy and sexy mini dress in a tv program. 

“Raffaella ti amo” was the message written on the shirt that Mario showed with pride after scoring.  A private message to show the world.  A little bit as when Balotelli showed the shirt with the writing: “Why always me?” But this time the meaning is different. Mario has gone from being  a misunderstood bad boy to a happy boy in love. A type of redemption for Balotelli due to that state of grace so typical of love. Surely Raffaella will have been happy for the free and unexpected advertisement of her name (I apologize for my lack of romanticism). But in this sentimental story there is also a black spot. There is someone  who seems not to believe in Mario’s redemption. This is Cesare Prandelli that without showing a shirt or using a message in a bottle made a warning to Balotelli through a TV interview. A threat disguised as a message. “Balotelli could be out of EURO 2012 if he continues having stupid behavior  that can damage the team”.

A direct message, clear without using periphrasis”. A message that  Balo’s  agent Mino Raiola didn’t like and he immediately replayed: “Prandelli would have done better to speak  directly with Mario and not through television” . True, but I mean, also Balotelli could say I love you whispering it in Raffaella ear or on the phone. But that’s not the point .  The fact is that Balotelli, the most promising  talent in Italy, risks his participation at the EURO2012. The problem is that Cesare Prandelli still doesn’t trust him and everyone knows that love can’t exist without trust.  Prandelli doesn’t love Balotelli. He fears being cheated.  Now it’s  Balotelli’s turn to try to  conquer the tough Cesare’s  trust after having conquered the beautiful  Raffella. It would be a shame for Italian supporters not to see Mario in EURO 2012 and also for Raffaella who in this way would lose the chance to have other love messages and more free publicity.