The offensive winger from Salento currently plays in the Romanian league, but he hasn’t forgotten that goal against Grifo in 2016. Two years later he also played for the Umbrians.
His adventure in black and white was short, but just 13 tokens were enough to admire his great talent. Today Philip Falco he wears the Cluj shirt, but his gaze is always turned towards Italy. In the week that leads us to the last effort of the season and the match against Perugia, we have a chat with a double ex full of anecdotes and memories.
How is Hawk? Sunday is Cesena-Perugia, a match on which you left your mark. Do you remember that February 13, 2016? He had just arrived on the banks of the Savio…
“And how could I forget my first goal ever with Cesena, scored at home and under the curve? We were down and won 2-1 proving we were a strong team. I had recently arrived and I was eager to take the opportunity to play in a big place after having tasted Serie A in Bologna, it was a very beautiful and intense six months.”.
Among the good memories of that year there is also the double at Avellino on the last day which gave us hope for the play-offs.
“At Avellino I almost always scored goals, in Serie B he is my ‘favourite victim’. We got to the play-offs well and I was sure we could win them, but then we made a wrong match against Spezia, losing 2-1 in a match that was compromised at the end. We knew that the club wasn’t in good shape and that by going to Serie A we might have been able to save it, but that wasn’t the case. I would have stayed in Cesena, but as soon as the championship was over they told us that there would be failure and our adventure ended like this.”.
Beyond this bitterness, she is left with the memory of a beautiful city and environment.
“I was in Cesena for a short time, but they welcomed me really well. They were beautiful months, spent in a very quiet city and with a fantastic audience. Playing in front of an always full stadium is stimulating, all the components are there to do well and play real football.”.
Cesena in B, Perugia who will be able to play their chances in the play-offs. Have you followed the season of the two teams?
“I have to be honest, I don’t have very good memories of Perugia and I don’t follow it much. Even in Umbria there is a fantastic environment, but mine was not a good experience in terms of relations with the society of the time. As far as Cesena is concerned, what they did doesn’t surprise me. This year’s victory is a logical consequence of what should have happened last year and was not achieved due to that unfortunate play-off. They received the right prize, I think of my friend Ciccio De Rose: an extraordinary boy and a great professional, I hear from him often and I am convinced that even in Serie B he will be able to speak for himself”.
Cesena has built its success on the cantera and on young people. You had the opportunity to wear the Lecce shirt in Serie A, the team you grew up with: what emotion did you feel?
“It’s very important. There aren’t many kids who manage to make the journey from youth to the first team, but those who succeed can give something more. Growing up in a place that becomes your family gives you something extra and is an advantage both for young people and for the companies themselves who can perhaps profit from it”.
He arrived in Cesena after having tasted a bit of Serie A with the Bologna shirt with the aim of returning to the top flight with the black and white shirt, but that wasn’t the case. Maybe, who knows, there could be a second chance, would you like it?
“Let’s start from the assumption that my goal for the near future is to return to Italy. Cesena is a very important square where I had a great time, I would really like to go back. If they were to call me I would certainly answer…”
