The transfer market remembers a lot of stories, when transactions took place, catching not only football fans, but also the clubs directly participating in them, and the players being the subject of sale and purchase. And sometimes it is difficult to understand who is in fact the main initiator or, if you will, the culprit of the accomplished event. Some transitions cause the joy of some and the hatred of others, and some leave an elusive shade of sadness. One of them - the transition of Roberto Baggio from Fiorentina to Juventus. No doubt, if it did not take place, the "Divine Tail" would not stand in line with the greatest "fantasist" in the history of Italian, and even world football, but he certainly did not deserve as many reproaches as he had to listen to.

For five years of performances for Fiorentina Roberto Baggio became a true favorite of Florentine typhosi (136 matches, 55 goals). And unlike the same Figo in Barcelona, ??on the transfer of which to Real Football. Ua already remembered, "Tail" nobody deified and did not consider an idol. The feelings that fed Fiorentina fans Fiorentina, were like a love for the younger (or older - for someone like) brother. And how could you not not love this modest and handsome guy, exquisite "fantasist" and tireless workaholic.

For some reason, everyone thought that Baggio was all given from God, that he only learned to use his colossal talent. And only those who secretly made their way to the base of Fiorentina to watch their favorite, saw how the "Tail" hours worked out their incredible free throws or unexpected for the rivals feints, and knew that the divine performances that he gave out on the field, earned blood and then. In addition, not everyone knew that Roberto had chronic problems with ligaments, because of which he sometimes during a match simply could not really hit the ball.

And suddenly a rumor spread that Fiorentina was going to sell Baggio, and not to anyone, but Juventus! Many believe that the hatred of Florentine fans originated at a time when the "Bianconeri" encroached on the holy - Baggio. However, it all started a little earlier - in season-1981/82, in which Fiorentina for some time actually claimed the Scudetto, but missed her chance when in the final minutes of the final match against Catanzaro Juve, thanks to a penalty kick, snatched victory, and with it The next champion title. Naturally, according to the Florentines, the penalty was appointed unfairly, Juventus again bought everything, and therefore worthy of hatred. The last injury turintsy inflicted "violets" just recently - defeated in the final of the UEFA Cup (3: 1 and 0: 0).

Learning about the impending "betrayal of the century," the typhosi seized the office of Fiorentina and raged for three days under its walls, demanding that Juventus be given a turn. However, the club leaders said that they are not here and that the transfer was demanded by the football player himself. Learning about the treachery of the "Divine Tail", the fans tried to storm the training base of the Squadron Azzurra Querciano, located in Florence, where the national team, which received the challenge and Baggio, was preparing for the home World Cup 1990. It was necessary urgently to call out special police detachments, the confrontation with which turned into a full-scale massacre, as a result of which dozens of fans received injuries of varying severity.

However, all these noisy actions of success did not have any effect, and in the end, Baggio still sold for 25 billion lire (18 million dollars at the current rate), which was a transfer record of that time. It is worth noting that the bosses of Fiorentina clearly crooked soul, blaming all the blame for the departure of Baggio on the player himself. After all, before the "Bosman era", a player who had a valid contract with the club was in fact a slave who could be sold and bought without his consent. That is, if the "violets" went to the principle and firmly said - "no! ", Even if Roberto wanted to change the club to a stronger and more prestigious club, one could not be afraid that he would insist on his dream. And the fact that he will then only serve a number, too, could not be afraid. Not in the nature of this Baggio. Rather, you can trust the words "Tail": "During the transition to Juventus from me, almost nothing was not dependent on".

But from love to hatred - one step, so whatever the arguments were not justified by yesterday's favorite, who became a "Judas", they will not be perceived any more. And if you consider that the fans of Fiorentina, even in Italy, where devotion to the team and hatred of her rivals sometimes reach the point of absurdity, take almost the first place in their sporting anger, it is not surprising that any arrival of Baggio to Florence was accompanied by riots.

It does not matter in which team went on the field of Artemio Franchi Baggio - Juventus, Milan, Bologna, Inter or Brescia, he was always met with a deafening whistle and flying from the stands rotten fruits and vegetables. Still, Roberto, who played 643 matches at the club level (291 goals) and 56 duels (27 goals) for the Italian national team that became the owner of the Golden Ball in 1993, recently said: "My heart remains violet".

And finally, the information for reflection - the words of Ranieri Pontello, who in 1990 was the president of Fiorentina, told them two years ago and shedding light on who exactly, apart from Juventus, wanted to move to Turin Baggio: "After 25 years I have no doubt, That it was a bargain. I do not regret anything. A good leader should not think about the interests of an individual, but about the interests of the club. Florence rebelled? But then calmed down, and after the precedent with Baggio, the most incredible transitions go smoothly ".