He says that at least he expected a telephone call from Passarella and would not have accepted to sit on the substitute's bench. He says that he's in his best form and it is not his fault that he is not on the national team. Gabriel Batistuta speaks after his third consecutive exclusion.

They are angry in Florence. Daniel Passarella has hurt their idol, their adopted son whom they love with an unconditional devotion. The fans go to the bars and tratorias where they eat the famous "bisteccas" while speaking plagues on the "Kaiser" [Passarella] and vindicating the hurt honor of Gabriel Batistuta, a victim, according to them, of discrimination unjust and capricious.

"With what he did, Daniel can forget about ever returning here to manage the Fiorentina team," they say in the Marisa bar, where an enormous poster of Bati is on the door, a reminder of the veneration that all profess toward Bati. But all is not anger and bad feelings. There are those who keep the classic Florentine humor. Like Mauro, the old caretaker of the stadium who knew Passarella when he played for Florence, around 1982. "To me, Daniel, instead of watching the game against Barcelona and the great goal that Bati made, must have been watching some game of the Japanese league."

And of Bati? Here he walks around unhappily because of the various misfortunes that have happened to hurt him. The suspension that will keep him from playing the next game against Barcellona in the semifinals of the Cup Winner's Cup. The measles that have infected his younger son Lucas. The right hand swollen and painful, after having broken it falling down a flight of stairs at his home. (Compound fracture of the fifth metacarpal was the X-ray's verdict).

But what hurts him most is the third consecutive exclusion from the national team. El Grafico heard his confessions in the stands of the Florence stadium where he usually gives his interviews. And after two hours of conversation he left the impression that he is not yet telling everything he feels, and the pain inside, but is testing his words so as not to drop a bomb with them. "I am in a very confused situation," he says. And there is no doubt this is true.

Gabriel, what has happened is very grave, I think you know this.
Yes, but I can't do anything. It's like in marriage. Your wife thinks that you are the best in the world, but there are others who don't think you're worth 2 cents. The same with coaches and players.

It's good that you can joke about this, but it seems that you are going to be watching the World Cup with a telescope.
Well, there's still a year and a half to go. But I don't feel like getting angry publicly. It serves no purpose.

It seems that Passarella doesn't want you and doesn't like you.
(Long pause) I can't say anything because until I was in the team against Uruguay, I had no problems, at least that I know about. What happened afterward, I don't know. After the defeat at Bolivia, in spite of all the work they did, he must have other things to think about besides me.

Gabriel, such an answer is eluding the problem. Against Colombia you were taken out because you were tired from traveling. Another acceptable reason was against Bolivia because of the altitude, but now you are in exceptional form.
(Another long pause) Yes, of course, I can only say that I am confused, that I didn't expect this, but you know what hurts most…that Passarella didn't even call me on the phone to tell my why I wasn't to be on the team.

A small thing
Call it what you want. I'm not a kid that only played a few games with the national team and now is being left out. My last game with the national team was as captain, and I have scored the most goals in the history of the team. One gesture, one explanation… I think I deserve that. Each coach has his preferred players and ideas of how a team should play.

According to your reasoning, then, Crespo is a Passarella player and not you.
What I'm saying is that with Passarella I have always been honest and loyal, and each time I was called up I did my best. Sometimes good and sometimes not so good, but I have a clear conscience. But I can't say that this exclusion doesn't cause me a great bitterness, because it came when I'm at my best—in my mind and legs. All Argentina could see this in the televised game against Barcelona.

Would you accept being Crespo's substitute?
No. I wouldn't accept that. Maybe if I were not in good athletic form, I would accept being on the bench, but not now to travel so far and not play. Perhaps I could answer better if Passarella had called to explain.

But he's not accustomed to do so. They say that he didn't call you when he was here in Florence on vacation.
No. That's not true. He called then.

What did he tell you?
What he told all the players in Italy, that they would not be called to the Bolivia game because of the altitude problems. After I heard that, I was calm because I thought I'd be called for the Ecuador game.

You thought wrong.
Well, what am I going to do? The only thing certain is to arrive at the conclusion that if I'm not there, it's not my fault. But, enough. I don't want to get into conversations without conclusion.

Gabriel, it seems that your meekness is not going to work well with a type like Passarella.
I am Batistuta, and in football, like in life, I do things as I feel. It's almost a question of self-respect. I have to do two things: to make an effort from outside the national team to keep the form I have now and to make it difficult for Passarella to leave me out.

But in your case, it doesn't seem to work.
Well, in the future I hope it does.

Does it cross your mind to quit the national team?
One thinks such things. But for now I can't make any decision because I am very confused. Clearly what has happened is very bad, but for now I prefer to leave everything as it is and not to get angry. If I say I'm leaving the national team, I could be harming myself. But I repeat, I'm not upset because I'm off the team, I'm upset because I didn't get a phone call to explain.

Could it be that Passarella is making you pay for your reaction after the game against Chile when you defended yourself and your teammates from his accusations?
I don't know. But I am sure of one thing, and I will repeat it. I sleep peacefully because I always am honest with everyone, but overall, with myself. That's what I was taught as a child and it is because of this—and not for scoring goals—that my parents are proud of me.

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