Cristiano Biraghi was in the Fiorentina squad when Davide Astori died six years ago and saw the parallels with Joe Barone. ‘You too went without saying goodbye!’
Just days after the sixth anniversary of the moment Astori died in a hotel room awaiting a Serie A match, general manager Barone suffered cardiac arrest in the Bergamo hotel as the team was preparing to set off to face Atalanta.
He remained in critical condition in hospital in Milan until his death today, one day before his 58th birthday.
Only a handful of players were in the squad for both tragedies and captain Biraghi couldn’t help but see the parallels.
“Ciao Joe, unfortunately you too played a nasty trick on me by going without saying goodbye! I cannot fathom how this wonderful life can also be so cruel and cutting.
“I struggle to find the words, or rather I’d have too many, to salute you the way you deserve, but I just want to remember how we met. You and me, two strong and blunt characters who from the first meeting crashed like two trains at full speed, but with the fairness that stands us apart, in the end were travelling in the same direction, against everyone and everything else!
“In recent years our rapport had become so strong that we would shield each other from the great deal of criticism that we received, you and I!
“You were a friend, a big brother or a father maybe, a central person in my life since I’ve known you! One of the very few who were always by my side and you had no shame in saying it!
“This is why I tell you that I will not forget the promise that we made each other. Make sure you don’t forget it either, so from up there give me the strength to keep it going! You and I know!
“I love you and I will do everything to make true the dreams that you had for our Fiorentina! It was a tough blow for me and the squad, especially as you left without even giving us a warning!
“But we forgive you because all that you did for us will be priceless for life! I’ll say goodbye now, because I have to keep our mission going!
“Ciao Joe. Your Cap.”
Several of the Fiorentina players have pledged to make Barone’s dream come true by winning a trophy and they had come close last season, reaching the Final of both the Coppa Italia and the Europa Conference League.
They are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA tournament this season too, as well as the semi-final of the Coppa Italia.
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