From 'Pinturicchio' to 'Godot'

August 23, 2000
Italiansoccer.com

Alessandro Del Piero changes nickname. The honourary president of Juventus, Gianni Agnelli, who was visiting the squad to attend the annual friendly match between the first team and the youth one, named the forward as 'Godot'.

'Godot' is the main character of a tragedy by Samuel Bechett "Waiting for Godot" and his name is usually used to describe a person who is waited but who never arrives. A kind of metaphor to explain Juventus's president and supporters cannot wait Del Piero comes back on the soccer levels of some year ago.

The previous nickname of Del Piero, 'Pinturicchio', has its roots in another speech by Agnelli. It happened when Roberto Baggio was still a Juventus player and Alex was at his first appearances with the club, but he was quickly gaining points. In those days the president explained that Baggio was like 'Giotto', while Del Piero had still a long road to do to reach the level of his famous team mate, and called him 'Pinturicchio', a painter less famous than Giotto.

Coming back to actual days Agnelli also spent a word about Zinedine Zidane explaining he has no doubt the French ace deserves to win the 'Golden ball' for the second time.
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