From the podcasts I follow, most of the older voices – Pellegatti, Di Stefano, even the usually hyper-critical Longoni – are pro Paratici.
They see him as one of the big boys in the game – not just because of the high-profile signings like Dybala, Ronaldo or Higuain, but also because of the smart, low-cost masterstrokes: Bonucci, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba (!), Barzagli… the list goes on. All that, of course, under the structure and balance Marotta provided.
The younger generation of journalists seems more mixed – but mostly due to the legal baggage, which is undeniably heavy. It's less a question of competence and more of ethics, image and potential future bans.
As for me? I just want this mysterious working group gone at this point. My personal preference was Tare, with some cautious hope for D'Amico. But pursuing sporting directors who are under contract at direct rivals is complicated – and it doesn’t just depend on our persuasive power, but also on whether their current employers are willing to let them go. D'Amico only became Atalanta’s SD two years ago. Sartori just renewed with Bologna. And Berta? He’s been flirting with Arsenal since December and only just signed now – that should tell you how slow-moving these things can be.
In the end, it seems the choice came down to Tare vs. Paratici who were available – and they picked their horse. A lot of old-school insiders seem to prefer Paratici too, because he’s used to operating with the big guns and big budgets. Tare, for all his brilliance, has always worked under tight financial constraints.
And after two years of corporate slogans and PowerPoint football, most people have run out of patience for long-term visions anyway. They want success. Now.
