Joey Saputo honorary citizen of Bologna. The city council is preparing to vote, probably on July 1st and unanimously, on the resolution proposed by the mayor Matteo Lepore. A recognition that this morning received the first green light, from the center-left and the center-right, in the general affairs commission of Palazzo d’Accursio. The president of Bologna, explains Sports Councilor Roberta Li Calzi, is not only the number one of the rossoblù club, but is also “a very important figure for our city”.
In addition to an “incredible commitment from an economic point of view” for Bologna, the councilor underlines, he also distinguished himself “for the management of the Dall’Ara stadium”, in which he is now making “further investments to modernize it and comply with the rules UEFA’s stringent requirements for the Champions League”.
Furthermore, Li Calzi points out, Saputo’s entrepreneurial activity (involved in the dairy sector) “has no market in Italy. Therefore being the main sponsor of the team, with his name on the shirt, demonstrates even more the commitment to the society and for the city. These are not secondary aspects to be underestimated. His personal and economic commitment should not be taken for granted.” But not only. The Italian-Canadian president, the councilor is keen to remind us, “has chosen to live predominantly in our city” and in recent years has been committed “in the area, in support of social projects and associations. He has also been in front line in times of difficulty, with donations during the pandemic, for the flood or the Garisenda”.
Li Calzi therefore speaks of “great professionalism and commitment” on Saputo’s part, but also of “kindness and empathy. The fact that he was able to unite the city should not be underestimated”. Furthermore, today Bologna football “is respected for how it behaves at a professional and professional level, but also for the way it approaches, for its seriousness and correctness”. In short, Saputo has demonstrated that “professional football can also be done in a different way”, states the councilor, recalling for example the story of Sinisa Mihajlovic, himself an honorary citizen of Bologna, to whom the rossoblù club guaranteed compliance with the contract until maturity, even after his death. Honorary citizenship therefore “deserves it – states Li Calzi – for what he has done so far, for what he does in the present and for what he will do”.
Then there is a “romantic” aspect that links Saputo to Bologna. 1964, the year of Bologna’s last scudetto and the death of president Renato Dall’Ara, is also the year of Saputo’s birth.
“A symbolic year for Bologna”, summarizes the councilor. The honorary citizenship proposal therefore receives the green light from the commission. The councilors who attended all agreed: the Democrats Michele Campaniello and Roberto Fattori; the “non-fan” Siid Negash from the Lepore list and Filippo Diaco from the Conti list; but we also like the Fdi group leader Stefano Cavedagna and the civic Gianmarco De Biase from the Bologna list. Everyone underlines both Saputo’s “professional characteristics” and his “serious planning over time” which allowed Bologna to arrive in Europe. But also his “commitment to the territory” and the “human aspects” of the rossoblù president, which are an “added value” also for the city.
