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!

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.