Papu Gomez-Atalanta: “Gasperini physically attacked me but President Percassi did not have the balls to chase him away”. The coach replies: “It was he who attacked me”
Papu Gomez were among the players who contributed most to transform Atalanta from a provincial club with a cutting-edge youth sector to a stable presence among the top positions in the league and the teams participating in the Champions League. Although the love between the Argentine and Bergamo was very deep in the end their paths separated and not without friction, especially with the coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The confirmation comes from the words of Papu Gomez released to the Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
Gomez-Gasperini: “He attacked me for not listening to him”
Papu Gomez’s farewell to Atalanta stems from an episode in the match against Midtiylland in the Champions Legue. Gasperini would have liked the striker to change sides at the end of the first half but he preferred not to listen to the coach’s instructions. “I already knew that at half-time he would have killed me, – admitted Gomez – and he did. But in the locker room he crossed the line, he crossed the line and tried to attack me physically.” “Did he really want to hit you? – the journalist urges him – Yes. – replies the Argentine – And there I said enough. You can object, ok, but when there is a physical attack it is already intolerable”.
Gomez-Gasperini: “He didn’t apologize and Percassi didn’t have the balls to send him away”
Following the dispute in the locker room, Papu Gomez asked to meet the president of Atalanta, Antonio Percassi, to confirm that he understood his mistake and the desire to continue with the Nerazzurri but only with the manager’s apologies. “As captain I had not behaved well, – says Gomez – I had been a bad example by disobeying the coach. But I told the president that I needed Gasperini’s apologies. And I also told him that I understood that the president could not accept that the coach had tried to attack a player “.
Despite the attacker’s mea culpa, Gasperini remained firm on his position: “So, how was it to be understood? What I had done was wrong and what he had done was right? That’s where it all started. After a few days I I told the president that I didn’t want to continue working with Gasperini at Atalanta. They behaved badly. – concludes Gomez – That the president didn’t have the balls to ask the coach to simply apologize to me … this ended everything “.
Why did Percassi ultimately choose Gasperini and not him? “I think it was an economic issue. They know that Gasperini is one of the best coaches in Europe, they know that his work adds value to the squad and makes players sell. It was an economic problem, and it’s perfect; They preferred to continue with him because they know who makes a lot of money at the club. They preferred that. People, perhaps, are angry with me because they think I didn’t want to continue with Atalanta or they thought I would rather go to Seville for more money … None of this. It was time for the fans to know the truth. “
Gomez-Gasperini, the technician’s reply. “Unacceptable behavior and it was he who attacked me”
Gasperini then revealed his version of the facts about the clash with Gomez to Gazzetta.it: “Gomez’s behavior and attitudes, on and off the field, had become unacceptable for the coach and his teammates. The physical aggression was his, not mine, but the real reason he left Bergamo is because he seriously disrespected the owners of the club. I hope that Gomez can continue to be talked about with his performances, as he did at Atalanta. “