Ex-Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli gave Gianluigi Buffon an ‘earful’ for embracing Paulo Dybala and says Andrea Agnelli should ‘push’ for a restart.
It was reported yesterday that Dybala had tested positive for COVID-19 for the fourth time in six weeks, and Cobolli Gigli admits he told off Buffon for his wild celebrations with the Argentine during Juve’s 2-0 win against Inter last month.
Ex-Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli gave Gianluigi Buffon an ‘earful’ for embracing Paulo Dybala and says Andrea Agnelli should ‘push’ for a restart.
It was reported yesterday that Dybala had tested positive for COVID-19 for the fourth time in six weeks, and Cobolli Gigli admits he told off Buffon for his wild celebrations with the Argentine during Juve’s 2-0 win against Inter last month.
“Players, if checked with swabs on a regular basis, would be less exposed [to coronavirus] than people who work in public transport,” he told Radio Punto Nuovo.
“It’s only right that sport starts up again in the presence of maximum safety. The problem lies with stadia.
“I don’t understand these hesitations from Spadafora. For now, the season must resume behind closed doors: it’s inevitable.
“It’ll be complicated for players, but at least it’ll revive an industrial system like football, which lives on a supply chain worth a percentage of Italian GDP.
“With controls on players, who will have to train carefully, and all other professionals, the season can restart.
“I gave Buffon a friendly earful for kissing and hugging Dybala in the last game. We’ll have to limit emotional reactions [if the season resumes].”
Agnelli has yet to publicly declare the Bianconeri’s position on the season resuming, so what does his predecessor think?
“The media is certainly an important asset for those who invest, but journalists should always report the truth, without being influenced.
“Juventus is a club that has done some brilliant things in recent years, the Champions League aside, and has invested a lot in doing so.
“It’s clear that there is an issue of losses, which would end up on the balance sheet.
“I don’t know he thinks but, if I was President Agnelli, I’d push for a resumption to recover lost revenues.
“I wouldn’t want the title without winning it on the pitch. Ideally, we would complete the season and reconnect Serie A, Serie B and Serie C.
“We must try to recover everything for September and then resume with stadia at least partially reopened.”