Salernitana, David Di Michele: «Disappointed by Dia, but everyone’s mistakes»

«I partly experienced Dia’s situation first hand. I understand the ambition of wanting to go and play for a big club, but if no offers arrive you can’t complain and refuse to take the field». Word of David Di Micheleamong the most loved footballers to have worn the shirt of Salernitanaand among the old granata glories that will be at theArechi for the gathering organized by Serie A – Operation Nostalgia.

Did you expect a season like this?

Absolutely not, it was so disastrous it was difficult to imagine, as was a huge gap from the other teams embroiled in the fight to avoid relegation. Surely one could have imagined that it would not have been an easy championship, because settling permanently in Serie A is never easy, but looking at the staff of Salernitana, as well as the competitors, I would never have said that it could have ended like this.

Among the main suspects in the Granata disaster, Boualye Dia, who gave rise to a controversy that has dragged on since the summer. What idea did you get from the outside?

When important offers arrive, I can also understand the desire to leave in the hope of playing for a more famous club, but in the absence of concrete offers I don’t understand what one can complain about. Until his sale he should have taken the field at least out of respect for the fans and the club, who gave him great prestige, and then also out of respect for his teammates, the 16 goals last year are also thanks to them. I found it a serious shortcoming, he could have made himself available once the possibility of leaving was over, it didn’t suit him too, I don’t know who in Italy, but also abroad, will bet on him so easily. For me, at the time, an important offer arrived, I scored 23 goals, but the president decided not to sell me anymore, I continued to play with commitment for the respect of Salernitana.

What project to restart from Serie B?

In my opinion, rather than resetting everything, we should look for something to save, I’m thinking of some players who may have the desire to go back up immediately. I would like Candreva to stay, he has shown more than many others, Pierozzi has also always given his heart when called into action, it is important to focus on young people too, the mistakes made are undeniable, even in January they took risks that they didn’t have paid.