Here is also Milan, who joins Roma and Juventus. The Berardi torment, now that the market looms, is gaining ground and it becomes difficult, even if the player is out of action due to injury, not to take it into account. Contract until 2027, monstrous salary, valuation given to him by Sassuolo – no less than 30 million – and physical condition to be verified, not before September/October, for the Calabrian talent, who in Sassuolo’s worst season ever has nevertheless put together numbers that confirm his stature (17 appearances, 9 goals, 3 assists) and lengthen the list of those who ‘Berardi in B cannot be there’. But also of those who ‘now that he is out of action maybe he costs less’. And of those who ‘wanted to leave Sassuolo already last summer, so it’s worth trying to take him now’. Three clues, the common belief goes, make a proof, and the three clues would mean, according to the radio market, that Juventus, Roma and Milan are thinking about the Calabrian striker.
Not just any three clubs – but he is not just any player – and it is no coincidence that all three of us looked for him in the past and, discouraged by the ’40 million’ that the late Giorgio Squinzi said the black and green playmaker was worth, making him uncontestable, they withdrew in good order, year after year, to the obvious disappointment of which he had hastily announced a farewell that never happened. Today that Berardinho is, let’s face it, an unknown (when will he return? And how will he return?) and who knows how much the Achilles tendon that was torn in Verona, three months ago now, will leave him with that ‘freedom of expression’ which made him a half a phenomenon, everyone looks out of the green-black window. Closed today, because, Carnevali said, ‘the priorities for Sassuolo are not transfers’, but not completely closed because on the one hand Berardi’s engagement in Serie B is not supported and because he, in order to a possible farewell, he has already sent some signals.
With the black and white flag that adorned his son’s bumper car which found widespread recognition on social media a few days ago, and previously with posts on social media that said he wasn’t exactly close to Sassuolo who were fighting against relegation which, without him , it became inevitable. Here we are then at the catchphrase that starts again: Juventus studies, Roma vellica, Milan tries to join. Did you think you’d avoid it, the Berardi catchphrase? Sorry to disappoint you, but we’re just getting started.
Stefano Fogliani
