«Vlahovic to Juventus? From Pisa I said no to Fiorentina “
“I’m weird, for sure. One day the president of Pisa Romeo Anconetani came to me and said: “You have to go to Fiorentina”. “How can I – I replied – to go to a team hated by our fans who instead love me?“. Signed Paolo Baldieri, class 1965, talent of Rome 80s, part of a super brood together with Giannini, Desideri, Di Livio, Tovalieri, Gregori and several others arrived up to the first team and the blue. Reminiscences those of the former Giallorossi striker of a football that appears increasingly distant, in the days of the passage of Vlahovic from the Fiorentina to the (ex?) archrival Juve. The negotiation that brought the Serbian to Turin inspired the story of (more than) a refusal to “enemy” clubs by Baldieri.
Even at the time with Fiorentina out of the way.
“Yes, but on the opposite side. The Viola wanted me, Anconetani who had half of my card in his hand had already closed with them, but I opposed it, I could not make a rude similarity to the Pisan fans who had welcomed me so well ».
Difficult atrocious isn’t it?
“It happened to me twice with Fiorentina: he tried again when I returned to Rome, apparently at the suggestion of Eriksson, which was a bit strange because when he was in the capital he is not very much involved.”
It wasn’t his only refusal.
“True. I also recapitulate at the end of my career, when I was in Civitavecchia: all done with the Viterbese, who offered me a three-year course. I didn’t know about the rivalry between the two teams, the fans warned me and I gave up. For them, but I sincerely took respect for the jump: I had to commute and so I avoided 100 kilometers a day ».
However, there has just been an important departure from Florence.
«I didn’t understand Vlahovic’s choice, really. With the court of half of Europe, why go to Juventus? For heaven’s sake, money matters, but he had every possible option and instead as already happened in the past from Fiorentina they pass to their most hated rival ».
Tell the truth, even to Juve
“We talked about Juve, as well as Sampdoria, where my teammates played in the Under 21. Well, maybe many are Genoa in hindsight gone: I have always found myself more at ease in the club with less pressure, where I would be been considered a person more than a number “.
So you spent most of your career in the provinces?
“Not only. I remember that there was also talk of Inter, but my return to Rome had not been easy after some excellent seasons out. And then now that I remember well there was another sensational possibility for someone who grew up in Rome like me ».
Which?
«Gigi Simoni had just joined the Biancoceleste. I had an excellent relationship with him, together with the product I experienced a wonderful year in Pisa which culminated in the promotion. He said to me: “Paolo, if you want to come with me I will do everything to get you caught”. I thanked them, but I really couldn’t have gone there and even the coach understood it, even though he was not a Roman ».
Is this kind of choice still practical in modern football?
“I like the sunset, so maybe I’m a romantic and I think so. Sometimes I repeat to myself that I should have thought a little more about my business, but it is a pleasure to know that even now they remember me fondly in Pisa. But if not with the heart, it is at least possible to choose with the head, avoiding ending up right there where it can create displeasure for the fans. As Donnarumma did: he was on deadline, he legitimately chose to earn as much as possible, but he went abroad, not to Inter ».
His words show great consideration by the fans. Are you still?
«Of course, I always follow Roma, even if it makes us suffer a little. But I think it’s a talented team, we also saw it against Atalanta, for 70 minutes with Juventus. Of course, some experience is lacking. Missing a Falcao, an Agostino, a Cafu. So it would be for the Scudetto ».
You made your debut with Liedholm, now there is Mourinho: do you see points in common between the two?
«The Baron was fantastic, charismatic, he left nothing to chance, he made everyone improve: with him I went from twenty dribbles to a thousand. I don’t know Mou: you can perceive great personality, perhaps they also have irony in common. If he has good players he can aim high. I hope so”.