It didn’t have to end like this. At least from the point of view of results on the field. But what Bruno Mossa De Rezende, 37, leaves as a legacy in Modena is something special. Last moment, the sincere and emotional embrace of the Palapanini’s two thousand people the other evening, certified the feeling between the Brazilian champion, Olympic and world gold medalist, as well as two other silver medals at the Games and two plus a bronze in the world championships, and the city. A love story that lasted more than ten years with back and forth and which led the green and gold director to be a symbol of Modena volleyball. Wednesday evening was the last match in the Modena facility while the Valsa Group will still play the semi-final of the fifth place playoff in Verona and (with a victory) the final at home between Piacenza and Civitanova.
It all started on 1 April 2011, Modena found itself forced to replace the injured Mikko Esko and for this reason it turned to the Brazilian market. Whoever would have lost a playoff between the two opponents Bruninho and Rodrigao would have played in yellow and blue. Bruno lost and landed in Modena. “And that changed my life. I asked Murilo and Sidao for advice and in one day I decided to go to Modena. Choice I would make again. In my country I was considered only as the son of Bernardo – a great coach who is still Brazil’s coach today – and I began to build my own path.”
Memories of the first day?
“A great, unexpected welcome. There were Daniele Bagnoli, Giuliano Grani, Pietro Peia, Da Re. I immediately realized that I had arrived in the right place for me. Here I also understood my value as a player over time.”
There were seven seasons in Emilia, of the nine spent in Italy, divided into three moments.
“The best moment? The scudetto won at Palapanini on 8 May 2016. Unforgettable. The most bitter defeat, perhaps the one against Padova in December 2017. Difficult days for everyone, especially for Ngapeth. I still feel that knockout in me.”
It was Stoytchev’s season, a bad year that Bruno would have liked to erase with some success in the last three years. In 2014 the second return.
“The club had changed with Catia Pedrini, Sartoretti sporting director. And above all I found that ‘crazy’ Earvin with whom I still share a great friendship today. I will also be going to his wedding in early May. In those seasons a fantastic group was created, a family, with Lorenzetti, the great dad. We have all grown as men too.”
Could you have won more in Modena?
“Probably yes. I think of the 2015 Scudetto final, of the 2020 Covid season with Leal and Nimir, especially if what happened in Perugia hadn’t happened.”
The season that is about to end will certainly not be one to remember for Bruno and his club.
“A year of few highs and many lows. Perhaps the worst season of my career, personally and as a team. We certainly could have done more in a championship whose level has risen so much. Too many expectations had been created for no reason.”
And what do you think of his next former team?
“De Cecco has the most beautiful hands in our sport, Anzani will be able to give a lot to the block, Buchegger has had a good championship, Gutierrez has grown a lot. And Giuliani, being able to work from the beginning, will be able to do well”
The last few weeks have been full of big parties in the city for Bruno.
“I have received so much from this environment, more than I could have imagined. I said goodbye to many people until last Wednesday’s moving and unforgettable evening, my last as a player at the Palapanini. And I couldn’t hold back the tears. I will forever remain linked to Modena.”
And now, what future for Bruno? First of all the fifth Olympics
“I want to dedicate myself more to my personal life, go home and prepare for tomorrow. After 25 years at full throttle there is a need to stop, to breathe. I will play in Campinas where I will find Mauricio who is the club’s point of reference.”
“Definitely next year. In plain clothes, then my future is all to be decided. But always in the world of volleyball, my life.”
Tags: Modena Brunos farewell Brazil future Paris Games
