Thursday, July 16, 2009

99 problems



A story the comrades will love, though I will be honest, even I was touched. Cristiano Lucarelli the former Italian International is returning to play for his home town team A.S. Livorno Calcio as they return to Serie A.

The player took a massive pay cut the first time around to play for the club he has supported throughout his life. He also wears the number 99 in tribute of the club’s ultras.

But, even this fairy tale was almost butchered by a chairman & agent.

As negotiations were being completed Livorno President Aldo Spinelli cut talks and released this statement:

“A.S. Livorno Calcio informs the fans that, despite having reached an agreement with Parma F.C. with complete mutual satisfaction, and that the footballer Cristiano Lucarelli was available for the transfer, the Club Livorno regrets to consider the negotiation finished because of the continuous and unjustified demands made by the player's agent, Mr. Carlo Pallavicino,"

Lucarelli flipped: “The news came in about Pallavicino’s fee and I really cannot believe my dream of returning to the Amaranto could disappear because of £40,000.”

His long time agent Pallavicino came through with the goods: “Cristiano is like a brother to me and I will do everything I can to give him this dream with Livorno.”

The agent’s £40,000 fee was dropped and a son returns home.

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