Leonardo Iannacci
May 26, 2024
Bruised but never tamed, Angelo Domenghini he experienced the triumph of his Atalanta returning from a bad bronchopneumonia. «The evening in Dublin made me feel better immediately», says the great Bergheimer (as he called him Gianni Brera), right winger won the championship with the incredible Cagliari Of Gigi Riva and tireless winger of the national team European champion in 1968 and second in the world to Mexico ’70, when Angelo resolved several situations for the Azzurri. True that Domingoa solid 83 year old born in Lallio, in the Bergamo area, lives in Sardinia but always has the Goddess in his heart and triumph in Europa League it rubbed his nerves pretty good.
Domingo, you were moved the other night, right?
«The age and the size of the triumph shook me a little. It’s not every year that you win with Atalanta. And certainly not in that way.”
Let’s help her with her memory: the only trophy of the Goddess dates back to 1963: the Italian Cup which had a certain…
«… a certain Domenghini, don’t you want me to remember him? That was a truly special evening. The atmosphere wasn’t the best, the match against Turin was played in Milan and not in Rome for a melancholy reason: Pope John XXIII, born in Bergamo, wasn’t well at all, he was in his final days and the final was postponed.”
She marked it indelibly, scoring a sensational hat-trick.
«Like Lookman the other night. And to think that I wasn’t Gigi Riva, not a thoroughbred striker but a right winger with a habit of scoring goals.”
Three feats solved the final one: do you remember them?
«Of course: I scored the first goal with my head from a free kick, the second with my left foot, the third with my right».
Was it half a celebration, though?
“Yes. The following day the Pope died and even in the city there wasn’t much desire to organize carousels or throw street parties.”
Bergamo had to wait 61 years to explode with joy.
«And deservedly so. The victory in Dublin was the worthy backdrop to an incredible decade.”
Atalanta is a bit reminiscent of its great Cagliari: a provincial team that won after growing with patience and foresight. Do you like this combination?
“Very. I arrived in Sardinia in 1969 in the exchange that brought Boninsegna to Inter. I joined a proven group that, before the championship, was at the top of the table. In 1969 Cagliari had finished second.”
A story very similar to that of Atalanta?
“That championship was no coincidence, just as this European triumph of the Goddess was no coincidence.”
The question, therefore, is obligatory: next stop, the scudetto?
“Yes. Atalanta can win the championship because they have the right resources, the right coach and many champions in the team. Starting with Lookman who imitated me in the hat-trick in the final.”
What are you missing for the title?
«Technically and tactically nothing. If I said Gigi Riva I wouldn’t be far from reality but Gigi was unique. I’d say there’s one more thing missing.”
That is to say?
«You just have to believe it. Develop the belief that the tricolor is possible as it was for us in 1970. Or as for Sampdoria in 1991 or Leicester a few years ago in the Premier League.”
So nothing is impossible?
“No. I believe in the championship. Being at the top for years, coming close to achieving a feat and then achieving it is a good antechamber for the title.”
Do you like today’s football?
«Gasperini’s, yes. Founding a team on young people, on targeted and intelligent signings and always being at the top is the only way to stay balanced in today’s football. In this, Percassi is teaching everyone a good lesson.”
Do you know that the football almanac considers you one of the three-four strongest right wingers in our football?
«I think I’m aware of it. It was my free kick that miraculously equalized the first final of the 1968 European Championship and led Italy to play and win the replay in Rome.”
Even in Mexico you were decisive, and on two occasions…
«One of my tricks made us win on our debut against Sweden, another one settled the match against Mexico in the quarterfinals».
Regrets, great Domingo?
«Only one: they killed me before the 1974 World Cup, but I had given everything to my country for years. No one has run for the national team like me.”
