Dig Out the Black Bunting: Corini is Leaving Palermo

By: Martha | June 8th, 2007

The Corini

From the moment the season ended, Crazyass Maurizio Zamparini has been talking smack about The Great Eugenio Corini, sternly telling the press that if the midfielder — whose contact expired this month — wanted to stay around, he’d be signing a contract with the understanding that his ass would be on the bench most of the time. Whether he ever said any of this to Corini himself is unclear, but he sure as hell said it to the papers a lot — it was as if he wanted everyone to know that even a beloved captain wasn’t going to push HIM around. You know, as if he was even trying.

Over the past week or so, it’s become increasingly clear that Corini would probably move on, since he obviously isn’t ready to hang it up quite yet. And today, finally, came the inevitable press conference in which he sorrowfully announced his departure — in tears, people. HE CRIED. Admit it, your heart is a little broken, too.

Unlike a certain club president, Corini handled the event with his usual class, albeit with frank statements about his desire to remain at the club. Basically, he (quite reasonably) laid his departure at the feet of the club administration, saying he would have liked to be a central element of the team for a another year, and then stay around to become part of the coaching system; this isn’t happening entirely because The Man said no. Fucker.

I’m going to try really hard not to go into an I love Corini! rant here (Is it too late to bother? I’m thinking it might be too late.) but the lack of class on the part of Zamparini and his club in handling this situation is sort of astonishing. How hard would it be to give the guy another year, let him play himself into (or out of) a starting position, and then make room for him on the bench after his retirement? The fans adore him, and he’s been crucial to the club’s success over the past few years. Why not just value that?!

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to spend the weekend in mourning. Now where’s that black veil …