Marco Sportiello hates three things: firecrackers, big dogs and the passing of time. That someone who occasionally whispers in his ear that after thirty years of age life goes faster than before. Marco will reach 32 in two weeks, but his 7-point performance against Juve showed that time has become an ally. A question of experience, this time.
super performance
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Pioli handed him the title a few minutes before kick-off, he put on his gloves and ran towards the goal, taking Maignan’s place. He emerged as the best on the pitch among the Rossoneri ranks. Thanks to at least four decisive saves: the first on Vlahovic, diving towards the far post, the second and third within a matter of seconds on Kostic and Danilo. The last one, finally, on a header from Milik. The only uncertainty came at the end, with an uncertain exit to block the ball, but Thiaw took the ball off the line by deflecting it with his face. At the end of the match he moved away from the spotlight by dribbling the compliments: “I didn’t make any big interventions, and even Vlahovic’s free kick wasn’t that complicated.” This is Sportiello. A humble, reserved, silent boy, linked to his Sara for several years and anchored by friends from Nese, the village where he was born: “Long football games, big evening outings, the first holiday at 16, in a tent, all together. This was our childhood.”
him and pegs
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Sportiello started for the second time in the space of two weeks. Before Allianz there was Mapei, also there due to a last minute withdrawal from Maignan. Bad match, however: three goals conceded and a couple of uncertainties. This time he didn’t betray Pioli, someone Marco has known since his time in Florence. In 2017-18 he was a starter for Viola, making 37 appearances with 38 goals conceded, and the two shared the Astori tragedy in 2018. Marco was the last to see Davide in the training camp in Udine, before the match against the Friulians. They had played on the PlayStation for two hours, then the doorman had written to him like this: “You forgot your shoes at my place”. And Astori: “Thanks, I’ll take them tomorrow”. The last message. In the summer they met again after five years, so much so that Sportiello defended him: “We are with him, focused on these last matches. The rumors going around are not good for the environment. In February they massacred us due to some negative results, but we came out of it great. Now we are united for second place.” He kept the last note for the title: “All this mess only happened because Inter won the scudetto. If Juve or Napoli had won it, nothing would have happened. And it’s the truth.” .
future
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Sportiello will remain at the Duomo as Maignan’s deputy until at least 2027. This year he was ready 5 times in the championship and cups, he conceded 5 goals and obtained three clean sheets. The most important at the Allianz, in a match where he built: 13 steals, 12 positive throws, three score-saving saves two weeks before his birthday. Blessed time, this time.
