Juventus are on the verge of unleashing Fiorentina after a crazy match”>Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina and that has gone down the drain with La Viola fans. Because even 75 million euros cannot ease the pain of the supporters. The story of a decades-long rivalry.
The hatred between Fiorentina and Juventus dates back to the 1920s, when the first meeting between the two clubs turned out to be an 11–0 tie for the Firenze club. A painful defeat that the Fiorentina supporters carried with them for a long time.
But the rivalry only really kicked up many years later, in the race for the league title in 1982. For the last game of the season, both clubs had the same number of points. Fiorentina’s goal against Cagliari was disallowed for questionable reasons and a 0-0 draw was not enough to take the title.
After all, Juventus won 1-0 against Catanzaro thanks to a late, albeit justified penalty. Fiorentina fans have since argued that Catanzaro failed to get a clean penalty in the 1st half.
“We have been robbed,” said Fiorentina player Giancarlo Antognoni. The slogan “Meglio secondo che ladri” arose among fans: “It is better to be second than a thief.”
City in turmoil after Baggio .’s departure
The real boiling point was yet to come. In 1990, a few months after the lost UEFA Cup final against… Juventus, attacker and crowd favorite Roberto Baggio was sold to the arch-rival.
The Old Lady put 10 million euros on the table for Baggio. A mere penny compared to the sums circulating in football today, but at the time it made Baggio the most expensive player of all time.
Fiorentina supporters pelted the club’s headquarters with bricks and even Molotov cocktails. In the riots that followed the transfer, dozens of people ended up in hospital.
Roberto Baggio moved to the arch-rival in 1990.
Banners for Vlahovic: “Shit gypsy”
With the impending transfer of Dusan Vlahovic to Juventus, history now seems to be repeating itself. The Serb does not want to extend his contract, owner Rocco Commisso sees no other solution than to succumb to the 75 million euros that the Bianconeri are waving.
That the Fiorentina fans, who in the recent past also saw internationals such as Bernardeschi and Chiesa move to Turin, now see their top scorer move to the arch-rival again, opens old wounds. In no time, Vlahovic has become persona non grata in the city.
Furious supporters have already hung banners on the stadium in which they raze Vlahovic to the ground. “Goals alone aren’t enough to command respect, you shit gypsy. Your bodyguards won’t always be able to protect you. It’s over for you.”
Fiorentina has not yet responded to the hateful messages from the supporters. The transfer is also not official yet, but according to Italian media it is almost complete.
Spicy detail: on the last day of the season, Fiorentina will receive Juventus in its own Artemio Franchi stadium. That duel already promises fireworks.
