When the champion is whistled

A player, in a blue jersey, booed by his own public: the Italian one. In the history of football, it has happened in different circumstances, but for a few seconds, during a bad performance. But for an entire game, with every possession of the ball, it never happened.
It happened recently to Gigio Donnarumma, on the occasion of the defeat of Italy in Milan, for many years "his Milan", against Spain. Even after days, the blue crowd remained divided into 2 factions: who would have whistled again Donnarumma, and who would have spared him the whistles. It was understood that he had an unhealthy air, since the applause of the players was needed, to cover the principle of whistles on the Spanish anthem. Then, for 90 minutes, the shameful chorus of Gigio's protesters: pure masochism. The reason is to be found in the fact that he was raised by Milan, and when deciding his fate, he was not satisfied, if only out of gratitude, with the contract offered by the Rossoneri club, but chose the 12 million euros of the Paris Saint Germain.

Here is the crux of the matter: “gratitude”. How should this state of mind be interpreted and managed in today's football? It has no logic to cheer for Italy, and to whistle those who, moreover, made us win the European Championships. Here it is about having the common sense to understand that, in the era of hyper-professionalism, gratitude means giving everything for the shirt you wear, and, like it or not, not for the one you were wearing. I too liked the romantic football of the flag players, for a whole career with the same shirt. But you have to be realistic in order not to hurt yourself. And, against Spain, too many have chosen a stupid harakiri, since Donnarumma did not shine. He annoys, if anything, that one of his players, well one year after the expiration of the contract, slack off to get a raise, boycotting the team: that is a real betrayal, and, unfortunately, it happens.


Carlo Nesti
www.carlonesti.it
NP November 2021