Here, Roma: Put This On Your Bulletin Board!

By: Martha | October 2nd, 2007

Coming through! In a virtual replay of the “Rino Gattuso is a kitten” excerpt from Steven Gerrard’s book ahead of the Champion’s League final last spring, the British press is plastered today with a section of Cristiano Ronaldo’s recently published autobiography in which he describes Roma players “almost begging” for mercy during their 7-1 thrashing by Man United. Not only did they allegedly suggest Ronaldo not “do anymore dribbles,” but he was also nicely asked to move to the other side of the field. Oh, and threatened. Supposedly. Oh, oh dear.

Let’s add this to the list of reasons footballers under 25 should not write autobiographies, shall we? Because odds are you’re going to be facing anyone you write about many, many more times before you retire — why the hell would you want to give them more reason to kick your ass? Because, you know, the 7-1 loss wasn’t enough motivation. I mean, Daniele De Rossi is so serenely calm under normal circumstances, I’m sure this won’t get him or anyone else at all wound up. Christ.

Not content to just re-publish the standard stories, Channel 4 pretends to do some digging into the identity of the Roman beggar and have decided that it’s Christian Panucci (who isn’t playing today). Hmm. While he’s way too old to be chasing Ronaldo around even when his team isn’t losing 6-0, it’s extremely unclear WHY anyone has come to the conclusion that he’s the whiner in question. Plus, the quote from Alex Ferguson in C4’s story is about Panucci being affected by the hostile atmosphere, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Ronaldo, so the whole thing is dubious at best. Just so you know. (Roma fans, surely, will tell us it was Chivu who was begging for mercy, but sadly unless any of you has Special Ronaldo Connections, we’re never going to know for sure who we should be mocking. Pity.)

Some Related Serie A Posts:

Category: Champions League, Roma, Serie A

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rallie

anthony, me you and everyone else who is not a 14 year old girl who think saying they like cristiano ronaldo makes them a football expert would like to do so.
Anthony

I'd like to put Ronaldos face through a plate glass window. I've had it with that kid.
Joe

I won't be able to watch this match until tonight because I'm stuck at work. I'll have to stay away from all my favorite sites for the afternoon.

This is the match, I believe, where we find out if Roma is for real. The missed opportunities to salt some games away earlier this season may have effected the side's confidence. Who knows, but I'll tell you what, it's stuff like this that make this game so damn intriguing. The drama off the pitch is at least as interesting as the action on it...that's the main reason I want Mourinho to come to Serie A.

I won't say this often, but for today Forza Roma, Forza Inter! Let's get at least three of our sides into the knockout phase.
Martha

Thanks, guys, a little DDR humor always works for me in the morning. (You've got to have a freaking death wish to wind that guy up, though. Seriously, when he gets going, he'd put you through a wall just for clearing your throat the wrong way.)
Vin

I agree with Lisa, that was a good one, Martha. It had me laughing pretty hard!

"I mean, Daniele De Rossi is so serenely calm under normal circumstances, I’m sure this won’t get him or anyone else at all wound up. Christ."

Nah. He'll be fine.

-Vin
www.serieAmerica.com
Lisa

Thanks for the description of De Rossi as serenely calm. I needed a laugh.