Of course, the match between Boca and Platense had a lot of value and might not be viewed with disinterest, but it was also the context of another fact. It took regarding nine years so that Martín Palermo might once once more feel the popular clamor of those who in 2011 had fired the idol player that became a legend, between emotions of one and the others. The Titan returned this Sunday to the Bombonera, where the Squid ended up falling 3-1. Juan Román Riquelme did not receive him in the tribute, but the show of unconditional love from the sympathizer xeneize was marked by fire in the heart of today DT.
When he was directing in local football, the fixtures wanted to delay the reunion. Perhaps, so that time passed and the sensations were even stronger. Every time Palermo faced Boca as Aldosivi’s coach (two) the hugs were in Mar del Plata. April 27, 2014 had been the last time that the former goalscorer had raised his head, dressed as Arsenal’s technical director, and the blue and gold stands had received him with pure ovation, when a short time had passed since his experience in Godoy Cross, from 2012.
This Sunday’s was different. AND had an extra condiment: Riquelme, the second vice president, would be watching him from his box. With all the history they have with each other, between egocentric distances in the locker room and that record goal celebration for which the former hitch gave him the assist, but turned his back on him while the 9 was looking for a hug.
Of course: both say that crossovers are frequent in the transfer markets, especially in the interest of Palermo, who wants youth xeneizes who do not add minutes. And the manager is always available: in these weeks he gave in to Maximiliano Zalazar.
That is why it was not necessary for the figure of Palermo to appear to activate the clamor of the fans. A plinth located in the field, with the phrase “welcome home, Martín”, put the name of the idol in the environment: “Paleeeeermo!”, was heard.
The most exciting thing came at 19.07, eight minutes before kick-off. Once the Platense players set foot on the field, the cameras pointed to the visiting locker room tunnel, waiting for the great attraction of the evening to come out. As soon as his figure was seen, the applause was thunderous, the ovation returned louder and that song that moved everyone on that June 12, 2011 appeared fiercely.
“Thank you very much Palermo! You gave us the goals, you gave us happiness. What you did for Boca is not forgotten in life”, exploded the Bombonera. head down and some Titan grimaces to hold back the tears. He reached out to Marcelo Delgado and Mauricio Serna, members of the Football Council, who gave him hugs, a plate and a framed number 9 shirt.
“Today seemed like my last game, the one of my retirement, once morest Banfield. And also the tribute. Today, following so many years, I was shocked once more, to mobilize”, he would say at the press conference.
After the photos, he looked up. Flags with her image abounded. Greeting, hand beating the heart and immediate attention to the banner displayed by the barra brava with the image of one of its many festivities. From that sector a “Palermo, dear, La 12 is with you” broke out, which spread to the rest of the stadium, as well as the classic “¡Palermo’s goals, which are already coming!”.
It remained for Martín to arrive at the bank. Hugo Ibarra waited for him to settle down to go in search of a brotherly hug. Then, they walked together to the local bank to greet each member.
Riquelme? Once the great party had passed, completed by short fireworks and blue and yellow smoke flares, the former 10 entered his box next to the slopes to watch the match. As in each recognition of a referent, He chose not to lose prominence and to send his teammates. Although, in this case, his presence would have given a photo to remember. It didn’t happen.
Once the referee Silvio Trucco called the start, the Titan played its match. Nothing of not wanting to get a point from Boca. He never sat down in the 90 minutes. He undid one of the buttons on his jacket as the game progressed and protested discreetly, always aware of the stadium he was in, for each infraction, doubtful play or… lateral. He even jumped low and applauded to ask for intensity in his players when the ball was in the possession of the xeneize team.
Hands in pockets and eyes on the ground when Nicolás Servetto equalized for Platense; He had the same countenance following the three Boquense goals.
The farewell, as soon as the game ended, was a replica of the welcome. There was a hug with Ibarra, an ovation from the fans, arms raised and the song that thanks him for his 236 goals in 404 games in Bocawhich make him the top gunner of the institution.
“I tell them “thank you.” I said everything when I retired. That affection they have for me is not easily erased “, expressed Palermo when leaving the conference. His Platense mightn’t beat Boca, but he took even more love than he expected.
