Alessandro Buongiorno has written a long and emotional farewell message to Torino and the club’s supporters after officially completing his move to Napoli on a permanent transfer on Saturday morning.
The Italy international has signed a five-year deal at the Stadio Maradona, running until the summer of 2029.
It is a reported transfer fee of €35m plus up to €5m in additional bonuses, while Buongiorno is expected to take home an annual salary of €2.5m per season.
Buongiorno joined Torino as a child 17 years ago, and progressed through the Granata youth ranks, before making his professional debut as a 19-year-old in 2018. He has since captained the side on numerous occasions.
The 25-year-old explained that it has been a ‘privilege’ to represent his hometown team for so many years, while also thanking the club’s supporters, staff and directors for all their help on his professional journey.
“I look up, I close my eyes and look back to the beginning, to the day that Silvano Benedetti advised me to leave my old club where all my friends played to try and get into the Toro family,” Buongiorno said in a long message on Instagram.
Buongiorno: ‘Looking back, I feel privileged’
‘Never was there a better choice,” he continued. “From that moment, I set off on a 17-year long journey. A path full of emotions, joy, happiness, but also tears and disappointment that have allowed me to grow and shape myself as a man and as a football player.
“If I look back, I feel privileged, and I realise that I had the strength to face every challenge with maximum effort , all with the heart of a boy who was trying to follow his dream. I have been trying to improve every day, to respect everyone as much as possible, and to follow my head.
“On this path, I’ve managed to realise two of my dreams. Playing and wearing the captain’s armband for my city’s team, and reading the names of the fallen at Superga. An honour.
“These two moments will forever be etched in my mind and heart. I will definitely never forget the memories from the games that we played, as well as the love of the people, my teammates and the coaches that I’ve had.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the supporters. I appreciate the support and passion. You took me by the hand and helped me grow. I would like to say thank you to the President, Cairo, to the director, Vagnati, and to the whole club for their support.
“Finally, I would like to say thank you to all the doctors, physiotherapists, in-house staff and all the people who work for Toro, you have all become friends. Now, for me, it’s time to to take another step in the professional game. I’ll always love you, and I hope you’ll still love me too. Turin is my favourite city, and it always will be.”
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