Ba-TRI-stuta
By: Ricardo Torrissi
Source: El Grafico
Date: January 19, '99
Transcribed & translated by: Humbird
At the highest point of his career, Gabriel Batistuta continues to amaze the world. Sunday he made three goals against Cagliari which left Fiorentina as absolute leader in the most competitive league on the planet with three points advantage over Lazio and Parma.
The afternoons in Firenze are colder each day. At the Duomo, in the market of San Lorenzo or in the aristocratic via Salvatore Savagni. Not many degrees above zero, and the cold invades everything. But not the Artemio Franchi Stadium. There the mercury is elevated. Sixty thousand people are responsible for the miracle. Sixty thousand plus one Argentine. He who wears the number 9 on his back and who has a monument of himself in the stadium which demonstrates the love of a city for his effectiveness. Gabriel Batistuta, the Emperor of Calcio, the Bati of Firenze, the Brother of David, is the generator of such passion. The cheers and songs rise to inundate the stands. Fiorentina has won 4-2 against Cagliari – with three goals by Batistuta – and Firenze is partying again. One more time, like all the home games, Gabriel has lit up the emotions.
Sleeping with the Enemy
"I don't know. The group is not divided, not at all. I understand Trapattoni when he says that a team that does not all go in the same direction can leave a vulnerable side. He told me that, when he coached at Juventus, he had players that never spoke to each other off the field. But that, when on the field, they had died to win. This is the mystery that we want to implement here. It is difficult work, but it is not impossible. If the results help us, everything comes much easier."
Sunday night, when the win against Cagliari is already a fact, Bati's voice sounds relieved and calm. His analysis is always dispassionate and objective when the weight is lifted from his shoulders. It is a moment to reflect, searching for a solution to the theme that all the sports writers in Italy wrote about during the week: the crises in the relation of the team after the defeat against Lazio. In the middle, as the promoter of all the problems is the Brazilian Edmundo.
"It wasn't much. It is certain that not everyone are friends. I, for example, like to eat dinner at Rui Costa's, but this does not mean that I'm against the rest. On the contrary, if it serves to extinguish some sparks, so much the better."
They say that Edmundo is the center of all the problems.
You also came here alone and you adjusted.
This clash between Rui Costa and Edmundo could affect the chances for Fiorentina.
And how are you with Edmundo?
If he has problems with Rui Costa, can't you mediate?
Have you ever been insulted by a teammate on the field?
and?
Night in Firenze. There are no shadows because there is no moon. Gabriel's voice sounds tired. Irina, his wife, wants to eat out. Bati surrenders to her insistence, and they get into his Mercedes Benz and drive to Riposso, a restaurant owned by friends where he can get away from the fans. Here we return to the theme of the incredible Fiorentina, leader by three points over Parma and Lazio.
All these problems will disappear with wins. Now, everyone is excited. Even the president, Cecchi Gori, shouts.
Love for the Argentine
The week had not been the best for Bati. The internal problems in Fiorentina obliged him to make use of his captain's armband. They tell in Firenze of the meeting where Trapattoni criticized and accused several players of being selfish. Before the whole team, Bati put aside his usual serenity and assumed his captain's role.
"You, (to Rui Costa) try not to listen to Edmundo when he insults you on the field. And you, (to Edmundo) stop swearing. I know that you curse because you see things and you want more effort, but think that we are fighting for something more important. Besides with all the cameras and press present it is impossible to hide a fight. Be careful."
Trapattoni was graphic. "Batistuta completed in a splendid manner the role of justice of the peace. His words were intelligent and of much service," he said publicly. Certainly, the words of the captain had their effect. Such that the whole team, to ease tensions, went to the Palazzo Vecchio and to the gallery of the Degli Uffizi, in a type of friendship walk. On Friday, unusual for him, Gabriel went with Irina to a fashion show. Of course, he could not go unrecognized and had to sign autographs for a half hour and take photos with admirers. That night, at his home on Via Volta, in the same neighborhood as the stadium, his computer serves to keep him in contact with the news from his own country. Through the internet he reads the news about Claudio Caniggia in Buenos Aires, Bizarri, Solari and Lussenhoff in Spain and also the Juvenile team of Jose Pekerman. Through a note that El Grafico published of him together with Adrian Guillermo, Gabriel follows the young players. Clearly, the national uniform calls to him.
Do you think you are a sure thing with the Seleccion?
But you have to travel and be with your family less.
and to be Captain? It is rumored that you will be elected.
Perhaps on March 31, in the friendly against Holland in Amsterdam you will put on the uniform one more time. It seems to be the date indicated.
Street of Passions
To name Batistuta these winter days in Firenze is to heat up any environment. Vendors of uniform shirts with the number 9 and the name Batistuta on the back say that they have passed the ten thousand number in sales. Everything is euphoria, excitement, and hope. And Batimania heads the list.
The bar is just in front of the stadium and this Sunday night it is filled with fans. The 4-2 over Cagliari has renewed the pride of the Florentines after the defeat by Lazio. Fiorentina is on top with 3 points advantage and is looking at everyone below them.
On the door is a poster of Bati with shorter hair, no beard and a little heavier. It's evidently from 3 or 4 years ago. Inside there are pictures of the various Viola formations, videos of Gabriel, hats with his name and key rings showing him kicking a football.
Giovanni Trapattoni agrees with the fans, and shows it any time he can.
"Batistuta is like Platini," he says. "Platini never made it difficult for me, never reacted badly or missed a practice. He was a champion. Batistuta is equal. For me he is a leader because he always sets an example. On the field, he always tries to add. He arrives 30 minutes before time and is always the last to leave."
A more down-to-earth vision is held by defender Moreno Torricelli, the ex-Juventus player.
"I was always afraid when I had to face him. The night before I would be very nervous. He's such a player. Now that he is my teammate, I realize his value as a member of the group. He knows how to say the right word at the right time. For me he is the best, on and off the field. With 10 more just like him, we could be champions of the world, not just Italy.
In the north stands, there is a banner that is an eternal part of the scenery. "You are ours forever" it says with white letters on a blue background. But it is not from an Argentine fan. For a year a group of fans have brought it from Peregola, a neighborhood of Firenze. Adriano, a salesman, confesses his devotion for the player: "I'm 27 and from the time Bati came here, I never missed a game. And more—I also follow him out of the country. For example, in the World Cup in France, we went with three friends to see the Argentine national team because he played for them. Of course we brought the banner. We know about the love Gabriel has for his national team and we want him to feel among friends when he plays."
This is Batimania… a feeling no one can stop.
Glorious Sunday
After the three goals against Cagliari, Gabriel went to the changing rooms to an ovation from the fans. The children tried to touch their idol. With a smile, he wants to comply with their wishes. He did not take his shirt off immediately, like he usually does, because of the cold. He didn't want to risk pneumonia.
Then, inside the changing rooms, Trapattoni greeted him while he took off his shoes. Overhead, one could hear the stamping feet of the fans. The top of the table was again the sole property of Fiorentina. When Luciano Dati, the massage therapist of the team, came by and told him that he had been chosen for doping control, he put on a jacket, smiled and went to the doctor's office. "Edmundo has also been chosen," says Dati. Then Gabriel smiles much more and says, "Let's see what fight they can invent now."
He puts his arm around the Brazilian and goes to doping control. While they wait to give their samples, they sit in front of the television and watch the goals.
Night falls in Firenze and the temperature goes down to zero. The Emperor of Calcio, the Brother of David, the Bati of Firenze, returns to the center of the scene. One more time, like always. With the force of his goals and the passion of his heart.
"He is a good guy. A little particular, for sure, but without bad faith. It is necessary to know how to understand him. He is not the type to join in with the jokes. To be a Brazilian and not to have any compatriot on the team makes the adaptation not so easy."
"But it took me a lot of time. At the beginning when I had just arrived and wasn't scoring, they swore at me in every language. There were difficult times for me. Afterward, when [Diego] Latorre arrived, my social life changed."
"They are two adults who should know how to resolve their problems. If they don't, it will be impossible to aspire to the scudetto. Edmundo has his character. It is necessary to treat him with patience because he is special. Many times Trapattoni has spoken of selfish players who could cost Fiorentina 3 or 4 points. We have to think about this."
"I don't have problems with him. I'm not a friend of his but we maintain a good dialog. We speak in the changing room and on the field. He asks me for the ball, and I ask him. No, I don't have problems with him."
"These are intimate questions about the group. I can't answer them. We can't pass up this opportunity to be on top. We have to be a little more mature to do it. To enter into the great history of Fiorentina and of Italian football is a dream we all have. Edmundo needs to have more respect for his teammates, and Rui Costa needs to have less pride. The prize for the two of them will be the scudetto. Trapattoni tries to get them to do their best. They are not obligated to be friends but they should get along on the playing field. They ought to think of the good of the group."
"Yes, I've been called the shit Argentine."
"I responded in the same way. It's not the first time Edmundo has said things like this. However, before the defeat against Lazio, everyone thought he was a phenomenon. Maradona also would swear at teammates, but because he wanted to win. And it happened, he won everything."
"For sure (he laughs). The people are filled with pride. When I made the third goal, even the photographers came out to hug me. It was strange. I looked up and saw someone hitting his head against the cement. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I thought that 10 minutes before, they had been protesting because the score was 2-2.
"Nooooooo. I'm maintaining my level of play, but I still can give much more. I don't want to influence the decision of Marcelo. I know him and know that he is independent of critics. But I love the Seleccion like the first day when I was called by Basile."
"Of course, but my family knows that I love the Seleccion. And they understand. Everyone makes the effort: my sons, my wife and I. You know what it's like to wear the Blue and White? If I maintain my level, I am sure that I can join the team, but this is not to pressure Bielsa."
"No. Stop. We are going by parts. If Bielsa calls me, that will be the first joy. After, the rest will come. But we don't want pressure. Besides, I already was captain in several games with Passarella. It's wonderful, but you can't be captain if you aren't on the team."
"Hopefully, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have to leave Bielsa in peace to make the next steps."