His Fans

Batistuta's rapport with the fans is unique, we may say it's indescribable. For the city of "Firenze", Fiorentina is everything, so the one who helps them win, the one who fights for them, the one that brings the "Viola" colors high in the eyes of the world becomes a god. Batistuta has done all this and more, so he has become "Firenze's" hero. It's the only living soccer champion ever to be gifted with a statue by the fans. A life size statue done in his image. A statue immortalizing his world known triumphant image holding the side line flag. This was Bati's way of celebrating his goals in l995. At the statues pedestal you can read:

"To Gabriel Batistuta, indomitable warrior, tenacious in his quest and loyal of heart"

Bati told us that when he arrived at "Firenze" the thing that impressed him the most was the love the people have toward Giancarlo Antognoni, who was for years Fiorentina's most important player. Antognoni is today Fiorentina's general director. Bati's dream was that some day he'll be able to enter the fans heart like Antognoni has. He has succeded, little by little, goal by goal, by declining offers from bigger clubs, sacrificing himself by staying with Fiorentina when they were relegated to Serie B, bringing back Fiorentina to Serie A the next season. He was the key player for Fiorentina in bringing to Florence their first big title in years. For seven years, Fiorentina is Batistuta and Batistuta is Fiorentina. It's unthinkable for the "Viola" fans a Fiorentina without Batistuta. When some years back there were talks that Bati would be leaving "Firenze", that there would be a transfer possibility, the fans grew even closer to the player. In l997 when Batistuta's transfer to Inter for 35 million dollars was almost a certainity, Edmundo was brought an presented to the "Viola" followers at the Franchi Stadium. The people at the stadium sang uninterruptedly: