Long time beloved Boca Juniors goal-keeper Roberto “Pato” Abbondanzieri is leaving the nest once again, this time under less auspicious circumstances than in 2006 when he headed to Spain for a few years. While the 37 year old’s place at Boca has been under scrutiny for the past year, Pato is not ready to retire just yet and in fact wants to challenge for a roster place in South Africa. Fortunately for all concerned, a solution was found: he is due in Porto Alegre today to take a physical and sign a short term contract with Internacional.
Along with Palermo, Riquelme, Schiavi and Battaglia, among others, Abbondanzieri has a stupendous history with Boca, having won fourteen trophies including six Argentine and three Copa Libertadores titles. For his tremendous performances and love for the club, he will always be revered by Boca’s people. Abbondanzieri was Argentina’s goal-keeper at the 2006 World Cup.
During the Argentine summer break, Pato was reportedly headed to Rosario Central as part of the compensation package Boca paid Central for midfielder Jesus Mendez. The transaction never materialized. In January Pato re-appeared in Boca’s goal during the Torneo de Verano. In two pre-season super classico’s matches against River, particularly, Pato’s limitations were exposed. There were other blunders at the start of the season and the last straw came after Boca’s trouncing at Newell’s ten days ago. Pato was the first to be dropped from the starting line up and told to find another club. Others are said to follow.
The saviour was Jorge Fossatti, Internacional’s Uruguayan manager and a long time admirer of Abbondanzieri. At Internacional Pato will join fellow Argentine Andres D’Alessandro. Let’s hope it works out for everyone.
