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D’Alessandro and a legendary goodbye

“Coming here was the best decision of my life.” For the first time in the almost 12 years he has been playing for Inter in Porto Alegre, Andrés D’Alessandro stumbled on his own. He could not dribble the emotion and tears. Not even the fool helped him avoid that lump in his throat that has been cutting off his breath for days. And when you review your farewell statement, you understand that feeling …

Since last night Beira Río will no longer laugh as before: his prodigal son, that Argentine who arrived in 2008 and who became a symbol of the club, put an end to his career in the Colorado. At 39 years old, Cabezón played his last game against Palmeiras last night (he entered at 41 ‘from ST) at the club that enshrouded him as an idol. And not only because it was one of the pillars of the teams that won a Libertadores (2010), a Sudamericana (2008), a Recopa (2011), a Suruga Bank (2009) and eight gaucho tournaments, between championships and recopas. No. Perhaps D’Ale’s legacy can be magnified by going back in time and locating in what was the institution’s hardest, most critical moment. Because it was he who, after his desire to return to Núñez, rolled up his sleeves and decided to return to Gaucho lands to put on his back and take him off the descent. And yes, it was he, with the 10 on his back, who in mid-November 2017 transformed a promise into a fait accompli. That day he grabbed the hype -literal- and celebrated like one more fan, as he will continue to be from now on, off the field.

“The decision has been matured a few months ago, and Inter will continue to be as great as it is”. In the farewell statement that he himself read with a broken voice, he explained that it was not a conflictive exit but that it was the closing of a cycle, just as it was: their relationship ends on December 31 and he decided not to renew. And although the Cabezón is already in the last stretch of his career, he made it clear that he will continue to play although “I don’t know for how long.” While he continues to enjoy his life in Porto Alegre as a family – his place in the world and where he was declared a citizen of the city in 2015 – the former River is defining his horizon … The closest, that of his last player cycle: do not discard continue in South American football (Uruguay National will be a possibility?) and even the chance to emigrate to Arabia could be among the options to be analyzed. Nothing that for the moment is a confirmation as his new title is: he was already received as a coach, perhaps one of the objectives that he raises to continue linked to the round.

In fact, if Inter will always have the doors open, it is because he wrote the most glorious chapters of that institution. To the point that the gaucho team’s own crooked chose him as the 2nd most important footballer in history behind the great Paulo Roberto Falcao (he played there from 1972 to 1980). A love that was won on the court, of course. With a dozen titles and other phenomenal marks such as his 95 goals! In addition, he is the 3rd player with the most appearances at Inter (517) and the one who played the most international games (68). So, how not to succumb to the work of an Argentine footballer who on Brazilian soil became an idol, a legend.

It was during this complicated, atypical year that D’Ale achieved dual citizenship and celebrated it as a title: “Officially Brazilian!” He celebrated on the networks when he made that wish concrete. Because although the one born in La Paternal loves Argentina and defended the national team’s jersey for many years (Olympic champion and Under 20, for example), He also has his part of his heart painted green for a simple reason: both he and his family were adopted as their own in the country, more precisely in Porto Alegre. And of course, his wife and children had to share with him, on the court, this new step in his career and life. That is why the club granted him special permission so that – in the midst of the pandemic – they could be with him last night and enjoy the tribute that came later: greetings, applause and videos remembering his entire career, post-victory 2-0 against Palmeiras. It was, in short, the closing of an illustrious cycle. The story of an idol.

YOUR NUMBERS IN THE INTER

-517 games played
-3rd player with the most appearances in the history of the gaúcho club
-Player with the most international appearances in Inter’s history (68)
-95 goals
-12 titles

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