In the vibrant tapestry of Italian culture, where football and tennis often intertwine with literature, stands Sandro Veronesi. A celebrated author and a devoted Juventus fan, Veronesi’s unique perspective, born from his Florentine roots and Prato upbringing, offers a rare blend of passionate fandom and incisive critique. His allegiance to the Bianconeri, a curious choice given the region’s traditional animosity towards the Turin giants, began with a simple yet profound realization: “Juventus,” meaning youth, resonated deeply with him.
A Juventus Love Affair: Nostalgia for Lost Identity
Veronesi`s connection to Juventus is steeped in nostalgia, a longing for an era where elegance and defiance defined the club. He recounts falling for the likes of Cinesinho and Del Sol, and later admiring the graceful play of Roberto Bettega. He even adopted “Sandro” as his preferred name in homage to the legendary defender Sandro Salvadore. His ideal attacking lineup from memory—Haller, Causio, Anastasi, Capello, Bettega—paints a vivid picture of a golden age.
When pressed to choose between icons like Platini, Del Piero, and Baggio, Veronesi’s choice is immediate: Michel Platini. Not just for his technical brilliance, but for his **unorthodox spirit**. Platini, seemingly nonchalant, disdained the “sweaty shirt rhetoric.” Veronesi recalls the disallowed goal in Tokyo, where Platini`s disaffected, almost resigned expression was, in his view, the epitome of a “Juventino” spirit – “in the best sense of the term.” This stoic acceptance, a stark contrast to Maradona’s fiery temperament, encapsulated a noble aura that even Gianni Agnelli, the iconic former owner, deeply appreciated.
Yet, the conversation pivots to an unexpected hero of the modern era: Mario Mandzukic. Veronesi champions the Croatian striker as “extraordinary and underestimated,” highlighting his improbable bicycle kick goal against Real Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final. “We need Mandzukic now,” he laments, a telling statement about the current perceived void in the team’s spirit.
The Unraveling of Tradition: A Self-Inflicted Wound?
Veronesi pulls no punches when dissecting Juventus`s contemporary woes. He pins the turning point on the “obsession with the Champions League,” an aspiration he deems impossible to plan for consistently. This relentless pursuit, he argues, has led to a defiling of tradition:
“The tradition was tarnished, the logo changed. The black and white stripes were mistreated to conquer the US market, and in America, those vertical black and white stripes are worn by hockey referees. Italy was divided over our stripes, love and hate: if you abandon them, you lose your identity.”
This evocative imagery of a football club adopting the uniform of a hockey referee underscores his deep-seated disappointment in the club`s perceived sacrifice of heritage for commercial ambition. He attributes further decline to management choices, specifically favoring Paratici over Marotta, a decision that, in his view, explains “quite a lot.” The scathing description of Thiago Motta as a “football assassin” (likely referring to his tactical approach or impact) and the diagnosis of an “autoimmune disease” affecting the club paint a grim picture of self-inflicted damage. For Veronesi, the plight of the Italian National team, risking a third consecutive World Cup absence, is intrinsically linked to Juventus`s struggles, recalling the crucial Juventus contribution to Italy`s 1982 and 2006 World Cup triumphs. Beyond club specifics, he identifies agent commissions as the primary cancer in modern football: “legalized kickbacks.”
Jannik Sinner: The Unstereotypical Champion
Veronesi`s other great passion, tennis, brings a more optimistic tone to the discussion. He speaks of Jannik Sinner not merely as a rising star, but as a phenomenon in development. He advises patience in forming a definitive technical judgment, stressing Sinner’s ongoing growth under an elite coaching team of Cahill and Vagnozzi. He believes Sinner`s methodical approach has already propelled him forward, and that game variety, like that mastered by Federer, will naturally follow.
Sinner, for Veronesi, is a “natural sporting phenomenon” – a child prodigy who excelled equally in football and skiing, indicating a multifaceted athletic gift not confined to a single discipline, unlike say, Maradona, who was singularly destined for football. His prediction for Sinner is bold and unequivocal: “He will win all the Slams, it`s certain, maybe across two seasons.” Having already delivered Italy its first Wimbledon men`s singles title, Veronesi confidently asserts Sinner “will bring us the four Slams.”
Veronesi also addresses the popular narrative surrounding Sinner`s Alto Adige (South Tyrolean) background, cautioning against superficial interpretations. While acknowledging previous Alto Adige champions like Gustav Thoeni (skiing) and Klaus Dibiasi (diving), he dismisses the notion that Sinner`s success stems from being “far from the usual Italian stereotypes.” He warns against reducing Italians to the “Pulcinella” (clownish) caricature, emphasizing that the “extravagant and undisciplined Italian” is an outdated concept. To illustrate, he points to international tennis greats: John McEnroe, whose genius was inextricably linked to his anger; Boris Becker, an “anomalous German” who became a legend; and Jimmy Connors, a self-proclaimed “charlatan” who nonetheless triumphed. For Veronesi, greatness transcends national clichés and conventional molds.
In the world of Sandro Veronesi, sports are not just games; they are reflections of identity, tradition, and the evolving spirit of a nation. His voice, a blend of critical analysis and heartfelt devotion, offers a compelling narrative on what it means to be a fan and an observer in the complex arena of professional sports.