Perhaps due to a shared academic connection – one name from Latin, another from Greek mythology, as Franco Montorro wrote in “Hurrà Juventus” in November 2001 – market contacts between Atalanta and Juventus have always been strong. Many excellent players have moved from the Bergamo club to Turin to wear the black and white jersey: from Tacchinardi and Montero among the more recent, to Scirea, arguably the greatest of all and one of the best in the world in his position.
Thus, Cristian Zenoni`s path along the ideal football highway from Bergamo to Turin, being the latest arrival, is supported by a fine tradition and Juventus`s consistently shrewd choices. Cristian is aware of this, just as he knows that as a descendant in a long line of players who moved from Atalanta to Juve, he has additional responsibilities. But Cristian`s main focus right now is simply doing his duty, fitting in as a new recruit within an established team and defensive unit. Being an intelligent young man, he follows Lippi`s instructions; an ideal mentor to help him mature and progressively integrate into the team`s tactics, where a valuable role in defense and just ahead of it has already been carved out for him. It`s worth noting a similar versatile role characterized Marco Tardelli`s first season at Juventus, although he did not come from Atalanta.
Cristian is not the type to get ahead of himself, just as he wasn`t fazed when the prospect of considerable apprenticeship and time on the bench at Juventus arose, after being a starter at Atalanta. Firstly, because he is young and respects hierarchy and merit; secondly, because he is confident in his abilities and the likelihood of playing frequently anyway, given the multitude of commitments for the Bianconeri squad. Just weeks after arriving in Turin, he emphasized his availability, which he reiterates today: “I honestly didn`t expect to play so much, and naturally, I`m extremely happy. But even if that weren`t the case, I would have continued to work as hard as the coach wanted; especially for a young player, it`s crucial to always be ready and available to come onto the field and play as and when the situation requires. There are players who, once they arrive at a big club and play little, ask for a transfer. That`s not my case. And besides, when it comes down to it, there`s no shortage of opportunities to play.”
This was evident in Glasgow, in the last away cup match of the first phase, where Cristian was deployed on the right flank but in midfield, delivering a convincing performance, especially at the start, before being required to drop deeper. Whether in midfield or defense, always on the flank, Cristian guarantees excellent technique combined with impressive dynamism. He is the first to acknowledge and believe that he can improve his ball control, shooting, and crossing. These are details that can certainly be improved upon, given his young age and Cristian`s willingness to train specifically for this.
Born in Trescore Balneario, in the province of Bergamo, on April 23, 1977, he started playing football almost immediately along with his twin brother Damiano. Their careers progressed in parallel and together for many years. “We always played together, starting from the Cenate team in 1986,” Cristian recalls. “The following year, we moved together to Atalanta, where we stayed until 1997, when Damiano went to play for a season in C1, on loan at Alzano. So I debuted in Serie A before him: I did in October 1997 in the derby against Brescia, he did three years later, against Lazio. In the national team, however, he was quicker, debuting in Italy-England in November 2000, while I debuted against Argentina in February of this year. We`ve always agreed on everything, except for who we supported. He was a Juventus fan, I was an Inter fan, and my idol was Matthäus, even though as a player type I`m more similar to Brehme. But now Damiano and I agree on that too, and he has become even more my biggest fan. I reciprocate and share the dream of playing with him in the Azzurri shirt. Ah yes, the blue jersey… An honour, a fantastic feeling. No, I`m not thinking specifically about the World Cup; I believe and hope that my first season at Juventus will put me in the best possible condition to convince Trapattoni. First, however, I need to convince Lippi, my teammates, and my fans. Settling in Turin, I repeat, was easy and immediate, both in the city and within the team, almost natural, and for that, I must naturally thank my teammates above all, those who welcomed me as one of them from the first day, and all the club staff. My natural role? I am perfectly comfortable on the right flank; I was born and operate more naturally as a full-back, but I also think I can manage effectively in a slightly more advanced position, and I believe this willingness to play in different positions ultimately gives me more opportunities to play. I am here, happy to have arrived at Juve; convinced I have a great opportunity and eager to seize it completely. Scudetto or Champions League? How can you choose? You play for everything, and you can`t make choices for one objective over another. No, let`s move on to another question? How? Single! Not in the football sense of a free player, but in the sentimental sense.”
He says this with a tone that suggests he prefers running on the field, wearing the black and white shirt, and wouldn`t run away if the right opponent… pardon, the right girl came along. Although the end of the interview is a declaration of love for the Old Lady: “It`s a great team, the best I could imagine. I hope to help them become even greater and win because that would also be the best way to repay those who trusted in me, including my biggest fan and critic, namely my father Valerio, and all the extraordinary fans who made me feel like one of them, one with black and white inside, from the very first day of training camp.”
Not bad for the latest arrival on the Turin-Bergamo route, especially considering that the regard and affection for him grew not only among the fans but also among his teammates and the entire club staff. At this point, what`s the best way to support Cristian? By wishing that the next time an Atalanta player transfers to Juve, someone, perhaps even in Hurrà, writes a couple of lines like: “Excellent players have arrived from Atalanta to Turin to wear the black and white shirt: from Tacchinardi to Montero to Zenoni, just to remember the most recent ones.” He is earning that wish day by day, both on and off the field.
He arrived in Turin for 15 billion lire, a considerable sum for a player from a small-to-medium sized team, and despite the competition, Cristian played his part in the dramatic Juventus Scudetto victory: he made 39 appearances, scoring one goal in the 4-0 win against Perugia.
The following year, Zenoni managed to play only about twenty matches, scoring another goal in the final game of the season against Chievo; nonetheless, he added another Scudetto to his personal trophy cabinet, his second consecutive one.
In the summer of 2003, newly promoted Sampdoria acquired him for one million euros. “At Juventus, I learned a lot in two years, but now I sincerely want more opportunities to play. I hope to earn them here at Samp and prove that Juve was not wrong to believe in me.”