"This uniform means too much to me"
Date: May 27th, 1997
Florence is shaken. From the mountains to the Duomo, no one talks of anything other than the situation of Gabriel Batistuta. The idol of a city, tranquil but passionate is in the eyes of all. And also their prayers. The fans go to the chapel to pray for two things: that Bati will not leave Fiorentina, and that Daniel Passarella will call him again to the National Team.
They know how much Gaby loves "la Seleccion Argentina," and the hurt it causes him not to be part of it. Because of this, a shadow falls when it is learned in Italy the news that the name of Batistuta, cherished by Florence and wanted by the most powerful teams in Europe, does not figure in the list.
Bati continues walking. With a new look –hair short in back and long on top, and with dental braces shining when he smiles—he takes to heart the bad moment he is living. One notices him let down, touched, but also contained as if he doesn't want to provoke any problems with his words. But something escapes him…
This time, he says, Passarella did not surprise me. I saw it coming. Crespo made a goal against Ecuador, he played well and if I wasn't called for that game, it's less likely that I will be called now. Besides, I'm not at my best level. A month ago I made that great goal at Barcelona (Cup Winner's Cup). On that occasion, it surprised me that I was not called.
Are you disillusioned?
Passarella would have surprised you if he had called you?
Before the Ecuador game you said that what hurt you most was that no one (from the National Team) had called you to explain. Did it happen again this time?
Are you convinced of this?
Are you confused?
You seem hurt.
Are you demonstrating "fiber." (In the U.S. we would say "guts" or "heart")
Your absence has nothing to do with your answer to that criticism of Passarella, the famous "lack of fiber." [Note- after the Uruguay game, Passarella severely criticized the team members for not trying hard enough and lacking the will to win. Bati was one of the only players to defend himself and his team mates]
The reality is that after that criticism neither you nor Balbo has returned to the team.
And you? With a hand on your heart. It doesn't cross your mind to quit?
Gabriel! Do you think of quitting or not?
His eyes dance from one side to another. Giancarlo Antognoni passes by and gives him two kisses on his cheek. Some 70 fans wait at the door of the stadium to get autographs. They shout: "Forza, Gaby, forza Argentina." This provokes a smile from Gabriel.
Do you have the patience to go to the World Cup without playing another qualifying game? You would not quit?
Before Ecuador you also placed him in difficulty when you made that great goal in Barcelona in Nou Camp.
That you don't know….
Passarella said that he would not make you travel so far just to sit on the substitute's bench.
You are too big?
Balbo did it against Bolivia in the first round.
You need a lot of patience to keep the World Cup in your mind.
If you are not called before the World Cup, you will not think about quitting?
Lucas, his younger son, only one year old, doesn't understand much of what his Papa says. Thiago, who is now five and half at least knows what it means to wear the Blue and White shirt. He wears it to sleep at night. But this is another story, more human, more intimate, more dear. All in contrast to what Gabriel Batistuta is living in these convulsive Florentine days.
By: Miguel Rubio
Source: El Grafico
Translated by: Humbird
After entering his ninth absence from Passarella's list, the historic goal scorer of the Argentine National Team opens the doors to his feelings, confessing that he thinks of quitting, but his dream is to play another World Cup.
I don't expect anything. My ankle and knee hurt and I cannot give my best physically. At this moment, the only thing I hope for are my vacations to recuperate. I need rest. I want to prepare myself with everything for 1998. That is fundamental—I want to go to the World Cup and to do it I have to play a good championship in Europe.
Surely. I have understood very little of what has happened, when I am left out. If he had called me now when I am not so well, I would have understood even less.
No. A few days ago professor Pizarotti called me. It was a call—how should I say it—of circumstance. Yes, of circumstance. But at least I appreciated the communication. It's as if I am not totally excluded, that I still have a presence.
Well, at this moment, I'm not convinced of anything.
Yes. They didn't tell me very much of their ideas. The only thing clear to me is that I have to work for myself, to get myself well to be able to give all to 'la Seleccion'. After that, what happens around me I don't worry about.
Of course. I would have liked to go. Many times I was in worse condition than now. Against Uruguay I had a terrible ear ache and high fever, but I played.
No, in every case, I demonstrate my love for the uniform of 'la Seleccion'. I have done a mountain of things to be on the team and I don't have to reproach myself. After what I have given, after all the sacrifices, playing in bad conditions, I think my efforts have served little [to keep him on the team].
I hope not. At that moment I said what I thought. Three or four months have passed and I would say the same thing. I think before I speak. It is difficult to speak in the heat of the moment and afterward repent. I understand that my declarations went over well with some people and not with others. It's normal.
He could be a casualty, I don't know. Balbo announced his "retirement" after that. It's not that Passarella erased him.
Don't make me do this. I don't pretend that others think like me.
Ehh…yes and no. Bah! To be sincere…sure I think of quitting but in a few minutes I change my mind. The uniform of my country means too much to me. Besides, I have given much to 'la Seleccion' and I think I still have something to give. I don't want to remain outside and because of this I won't quit. (he thinks a few seconds) If I had won one World Cup perhaps I would quit. It is not easy to make long trips to play when one is sick and than to get criticized because no one knew about it.
I don't know. For now, I am thinking about my vacation and to recuperate. Afterwards, I don't know. My major ambition is to put Passarella in difficulty so he has to say "I will call him."
Well, I can't do more than that. Each player must do this: put the coach in difficulty so that he has to call you. I am sad, but I understand that Passarella must have his reasons.
I didn't know before Ecuador and I don't know now.
That's alright. I would not want to travel so much just to sit on the bench, at least at this level of the competition.
No. I didn't say I was too big. I don't feel like traveling many hours just to sit on the bench.
Yes, but he didn't know that he would be sitting on the bench. If he had known ahead of time, he would not have gone—I think. Abel is good and everything but it's very complicated to make such an effort just to remain sitting. We have to be serious. It is not a question of being too big. A player can't play well in this rhythm.
I may seem selfish, but look at what I say: I work for myself. I want to play in the World Cup. If Passarella doesn't call me for six months but takes me to France, I will have achieved my objective.
Today I think not. I would like to give a hand to Argentina to get there. But if it can't be so… I want to tell my sons that I played two World Cups and that in one we lost because of a mountain of problems but in the second we won. This is my dream.