A bitter row has broken out between Napoli goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and Fiorentina director Joe Barone, as the pair accuse each other of being ‘unprofessional’ and ‘taking me for a ride.’
Gollini is still owned by Atalanta and started the season on loan at Fiorentina, where he made only a handful of appearances before being dropped due to some costly howlers, especially in the Conference League.
He then switched the loan with option to buy over to Napoli and made his debut in last night’s 2-0 Serie A win over Atalanta, standing in for injured Alex Meret.
“It had never happened before in my career that I felt like I was being taken for a ride,” Gollini told DAZN.
“We are paid to train the best way we can, but football has always been my life, so when I am unhappy it becomes difficult to express myself on the pitch.
“When I was in Bergamo with Atalanta, it felt like we were a family, and I have the same sensation at Napoli.”
Now Fiorentina director general Barone has given a response to the comments made by Gollini.
“It was a strange situation. A player who lives by playing football and earning a salary that comments like that is not a professional,” said the Italian-American.
“In Florence we want players who are in love with the Viola jersey and the fans, this is my comment.”
Gollini later took to Instagram in order to explain himself further, after receiving insults from Fiorentina fans online.
“I am sorry if my words were misunderstood. Unfortunately, things don’t always go the way you hope, I described my personal state of mind in a moment of my life, without rancour and with the utmost gratitude for those who believed in and supported me.”
Gollini turns 28 later this month and made nine appearances for Fiorentina in all competition during that loan spell, keeping four clean sheets and conceding eight goals.