In Turin, unlike Milan, players rarely transfer between the city’s two teams, least of all individuals who had spent their entire life at one and had been earmarked as a future captain of that team. However, on August 18 that trend broke when Federico Balzaretti became only the seventh Torino player to cross over to Juventus.
He is in limited but illustrious company. Riccardo Carapellese’s move in 1952 was followed by Luigi Simoni in the 1960s, before Italian international Aldo Serena made the switch across the Po in 1985 much to the wrath of Toro supporters. In 1994, captain Luca Fusi and Croatian Robert Jarni joined Juventus as the Granata sold virtually everything including the club’s furniture to avoid bankruptcy. The last example was Gianluca Pessotto who switched in 1995 and has been a Juventus stalwart for well over a decade.
Balzaretti’s case is different. Unlike other ex-Toro youth players such as Dino Baggio and Christian Vieri, who went on to join the Bianconeri after being sold to other clubs, Balzaretti made the switch directly. He had spent his entire life at Torino having come through the various youth systems from the age of seven, had played over 100 times for the side and was set to become club captain for the next decade.
When Torino went bankrupt in August 2005, fans expected the players to find new clubs. Most hoped that Balzaretti would stay or at the very least join a club that was not a direct rival. “I was very hurt by the way things ended at Torino,” admitted Balzaretti. “Franco Cimminelli and President Attilio Romero promised that the club would be saved having known all along it would not be possible. It was like an open wound had been cut after working so hard to gain promotion.”
Balzaretti revealed the consortium that took over the club was not fast enough in trying to secure his services. “I had no offers from the new Torino and was therefore free to make my decision.” The left-back was linked with Lazio, Treviso and Parma before a move to Roma seemed on the verge of completion.
However, there was to be a sting in the tale when, after a meeting which lasted just a few hours, Balzaretti was suddenly a Juve player. “It was an offer I couldn’t turn down,” said the 24-year-old. “My girlfriend was about to give birth to our first child, Lucrezia, and we wanted to stay near my family. Juventus made me the promise that I would not be sent out on loan and the chance of playing with such champions and for one of the world’s most important clubs was too much to turn down - even at the risk of not playing regularly.”
Having been the Torino fans’ idol and symbol last season, as well as having witnessed a tragic summer which at the time had not reached its happier conclusion, Toro supporters were understandably upset with this mark of treachery. Death threats were amongst some of the remarks made to Balzaretti, a player who had always enjoyed a close relationship with the Curva.
“I learnt to deal with the threats,” continued Balzaretti. “Intelligent people will understand my decision, the others never will. After a few weeks things got easier and I can now live a normal life again.” In the heated Torino summer, the Balzaretti affair was a small chapter and consequently the left-back avoided what could have been a more awkward situation. When the dust settled, however, it seemed unclear why Juve had signed him.
Although undoubtedly a talented player, Balzaretti seemed surplus to requirements for Juve who in Gianluca Zambrotta, Balza’s hero, and international Giorgio Chiellini already had sufficient cover at left-back and on the right-hand side had Alessandro Birindelli, Jonathan Zebina, Gianluca Pessotto and the recently converted full-back, Manuele Blasi.
“Balzaretti is a talented player who can play on the left or the right,” said Juve director general Luciano Moggi. “He will have to be patient but he will get his chance.” So far Balzaretti’s chances have been limited, but had it not been for some personal problems he probably would have enjoyed more opportunities.
Balzaretti came through the Torino ranks, winning a Coppa Italia with the youth team before making his mark during loan spells at Varese and then Siena. In three seasons back at Torino, he made the left-back berth his own, impressing above all for his never-say-die-spirit and athleticism.
A player who can move from defence to attack at will, Balzaretti is a modern full-back but one who hasn’t learnt the art of crossing which continues to be his downfall. “I need to demonstrate that I’m worthy of being a Juventus player. Training with someone like Zambrotta can only help me develop. However, I have settled in very well and it’s a club where everyone helps each other out.”
In a way everyone is happy, Juventus have a player who like Pessotto could become a cornerstone for a decade, while Torino shirt sellers are more than willing to be making a packet out of ‘Balzaretti Traditore’ T-shirts.
Buy on AliExpress.com
