San Roby

[MILANISTA]

Baggio agent reveals Juve-Milan row

Source: Football Italia

Roberto Baggio’s agent has revealed that the controversial 1990 move to Juventus came after a deal had already been struck with Milan.

“That move was the masterpiece of my professional career, but it was also the worst personal mistake I could’ve made,” explained Antonio Caliendo on Sky Italia television.

Il Divin Codino made the sensational switch from Fiorentina to arch rivals Juventus in the summer of 1990, sparking riots in the Tuscan streets, but it turns out they weren’t the only people to be aggrieved.

“I have never revealed this before, but at the time when Baggio moved to Juve, he was essentially already a Milan player on a handshake deal. The new Bianconeri management led by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo came in and reached an agreement with Fiorentina President Pontello, as they had a privileged relationship.”

Baggio, who shot to international fame during the 1990 World Cup, never made it a secret that he was unhappy with the Turin switch.

“Roby came to me and said: ‘Antonio, you don’t understand the situation here. You can do anything you like in Florence, but if I join Juventus, they’re going to lynch me!’ The Viola fanbase certainly reacted angrily – it was like a revolution for a few days.”

However, the Milan involvement was kept quiet up until now and Baggio’s career could’ve taken a very different path.

“I told Pontello that I already had a verbal agreement with Milan President Silvio Berlusconi and that for me it was worth more than 50 signed contracts. The day after, Berlusconi called me in and thanked me for my stance on the matter, but had to give in. I think it was a battle between Berlusconi and Juve’s Gianni Agnelli to get the greatest new Italian talent and I wanted to take Roberto into the big time. I’m not sure I was up to such a huge task.”

Baggio stayed at Juventus for five years, but eventually did wear the Milan jersey from 1995 to ’97, going on to play for Bologna, Inter and Brescia before retiring in 2004.