Two phone calls were enough to reach an agreement. “We wanted him badly, but he was also aiming to come to us” he underlines Elisabetta Curti, president of Gas Sales Blueenergy. At his side Gianluca Galassi he nods, he was Piacenza’s first purchase in chronological order, he signed a three-year contract and the red and white leaders are focusing a lot on him. Because he is the reigning world champion (“yet another in our team” they are keen to point out), a title enriched by the award as best center back of the world championship event, but also for the fact that in the last season with the Monza shirt he reached one step away from the Tricolore.
For its official presentation, a non-trivial location was chosen, the heart of Gas Sales in Alseno, and among the speakers and spectators there was not even a manager missing. The moment is important, Piacenza starts again for a new three-year cycle and to do so it is banking on this central defender who is not yet 27 years old and who has great experience behind him as confirmed by the eight seasons in the Super League and the many victories with Italy.
«In addition to the athletic qualities – says Curti – we were struck by the human qualities. We are talking about a player who has won a lot with the national team but wants to get great satisfaction with the club and this is a characteristic that unites us and makes him an important element for our team.”
Galassi goes up another step, because «in Monza we did very well, but we were outsiders, Piacenza on the other hand has the potential to gain great satisfaction. I hope that we will achieve important goals together.”
Then focus on the importance of the group. «My teammates must first and foremost be friends, because if we don’t get along well together it becomes difficult to achieve results». He couldn’t say no to Piacenza’s request «because there is an ambitious project, they want to open a new cycle and for me it was the right time to change». The last season with Monza left fundamental lessons: «You must never set limits and submit to labels. We had to face some difficulties, but we were good at focusing on one training session at a time. Then we kids said to ourselves: where do we want to go? And we have achieved great results. I leave with a beautiful memory.”
He has already asked Romanò for information about Piacenza: «He spoke to me very well about society and the environment, Caneschi also told me the same. How much did Maar’s arrival in red and white impact my choice? I don’t think his arrival is yet official.”
The vice president also praised the new arrival Giuseppe Bongiorni: «With Gianluca we are opening a three-year project that concerns the team and the club. In recent weeks many previews have been written about our projects, but many were exactly the opposite of the ideas we were working on. Galassi is an important asset for us, he will be on the pitch and in the locker room.”
The speed of the agreement, a symptom of the player’s will, is underlined both by Hristo Zlatanov both from Ninni De Nicolo: «It was one of the simplest negotiations because the player never had doubts», while Alessandro Fei underlines the importance «of an Italian center back who in recent years has proven to be fundamental both in the Super League and at an international level».
The shirt number has already been decided: he will take 12 like the one worn by goalkeepers Julio Cesar and Sebastian Frey, Galassi’s idols when he played football as a goalkeeper.
