Papu Gomes and Atalanta were a heavenly match • The relationship became a symbol of the team's success, he refused the big money because of it and has already talked about retiring at Bergamo, but now the captain is looking for a new home • Dor Hoffman on a love story with a sad ending
Papu Gomes and Jan Piero Gasparini.
Something got stuck in the relationship
Photography:
AFP
Its biggest win in recent times, a 1-4 home win over Roma on Sunday, was achieved by Atlanta without its captain and biggest star in recent years.
Papu Gomes remains out of Gian Piero Gasparini's squad for this game, during what was probably the last step before the inevitable breakup in January.
Prior to this move, the Argentine midfielder remained out of the squad for the canceled game against Udinese, then sat on the bench for 90 minutes against Fiorentina, then watched the Juventus anthem as he came on as a substitute against the champions, and finally - befitting the spirit of the period - came historic.
"Dear fans, I am writing this to you because I have no other way to defend myself and talk to you," Papu wrote on Instagram, "I just want to tell you that when I leave, the truth will come out. Love you, your captain."
The fact that Papu even talked about leaving Atlanta seemed fictional until recently.
The 32-year-old Argentine midfielder arrived at the club in 2014 from Ukrainian metalist Kharkov without any prior expectations, and over time became a symbol of the club’s success from Bergamo.
From a team that fought against relegation when the Argentine came to it, Atlanta became one to play for the second time in a row in the last eight of the Champions League.
Valgomes, 165 inches talented and cheeky, plays a key role in this success story.
An incurable tear
After going under the radar in Catania and the Ukrainian league, Papu burst into consciousness precisely in Atlanta.
In his six seasons in black and blue, the frenetic game maker has invented for himself a role in which he conquers and cooks and does what he pleases - "TotoCampista" in Italian, "Kashrakl" in free translation.
He has scored 59 goals since arriving, and in addition, last year set a cooking record for one season 16 - in number.
It was a match from heaven.
Gomes fell in love with Atlanta - and she's in it.
He refused rich league offers, strengthened ties with the city during the Corona plague and spoke of a desire to retire from the club and establish a football school for the younger generation in the city.
Last year he even declared: "The thing that fills me the most with happiness is to make Bergamo happy."
so what happened?
How did such a love story become an irreparable rift?
It all started with the Champions League game against Mitteland earlier this month.
Gomes did not like the instructions handed out by coach Gasparini, and after some difficult matters in the Argentine locker room did not come up for the second half.
Although Papu played against Ajax in a game that secured a place in the quarterfinals, the hope of club president Antonio Perkasi, who the two straightened out, did not materialize.
The fact that Gomes is not a partner against Fiorentina and came in as a substitute against Juventus ignited the fire again.
Contact at a bargain price
According to the Gazzetta, he was not called up for the game against Roma at all due to "discipline issues", including the fact that he did not celebrate Remo Frailer's equalizer against Juventus, and sang defiantly and in front of the cameras the old lady's anthem.
Gasparini said this week that "Atalanta has a lot of captains," and the message went through.
Papu Gomes, the current captain, on the way out.
So now the arms race begins.
One of the best ties in the league is going to be available at a bargain price of 10 million euros, and in such a close season this is a potential tie-breaker.
Piero Osilio, Inter's professional manager, admitted this week that "we are following Papu's situation closely," and journalist Marco Demichelli said Lazio is also looking into the situation.
In the Corriere dello Sport, they devoted an entire article explaining why AC Milan is the closest to signing him, while the events of the past week have led to reports that his next target is Juventus, whose anthem he knows and loves.
Tomorrow, after the game against Bologna, Gomes' agent is expected to sit down with the Atlanta management to put a bad end to one of the most beautiful and good stories of recent years in Serie A.
Papu Gomes will probably open 2021 in another team, although he never wanted to.
