Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci published a letter to supporters in todays edition of La Repubblica, ahead of the Turin Derby. The club are coming off the back of two big defeats, the first against Milan in the league and the second in the Champions League vs Maccabi Haifa. Bianconeri management decided to send the the players into a training retreat in the run up to the game, and Bonucci has decided to write directly to the clubs supporters today:
It is a special period, for us, for the fans…That this derby comes at just the right time? We will see. In the meantime, in the role of captain, I wanted to write the following after having discussed it with the club. Already in other seasons the victory in the Derby has turned out to be a watershed, between what could have been and what then was.
In addition to this, if I played, I would reach an important milestone: 400 games in Serie A as a starter. Considering that every child’s dream is to play at least one in his or her life, taking the field in this Derby would therefore be even more exciting and meaningful for me… it is honestly priceless to come out of the locker room and parade a few moments before the start of the match with the same eyes as the dreamy child of that time, strong, however, with the experience now of one who already has so many behind him.
It is a feeling I often have. The Derby is always a special match, and although for years the gap between the two teams has been honestly important, we will be fighting for three points of fundamental importance, for one team and the other, for different reasons.
My family and I are lucky to live in Turin, it is a beautiful city. We experience the city as if we have been here forever, between walks in the center, bike rides at Valentino or on the Po, afternoons spent in Piazza Valdo Fusi. We feel like “Torinese” after more than 10 years.
When this match approaches in the city there is a different atmosphere, many Toro fans on the street, with due approach and politeness, direct mockery toward me that is part of the game while others ask not to hurt their ‘granata’ heart.
They are always suggestive matches to play, the adrenaline goes up quite a bit, and until some time ago I even had to maintain a certain demeanor at home so as not to displease my son Lorenzo too much. Then Ronaldo arrived, Belotti left, and this will be the first Derby where all the family’s cheering will be directed toward a single flag: the black and white one! The beauty of sports is to ignite a passion and support one’s faith and that is why I can’t wait to take the field, see the stadium full and give everything, together with my team, to bring home the result. To each his own Derby, as long as it is a spectacle for soccer, on and off the field. Happy Derby to all and may the best man win.”
