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| Thursday 4 September, 2008 |
| Blog: Broken promise |
| Alvaro Recoba is clubless after his Inter contract expired. Antonio Labbate looks back with regret at a player who should have been a great |
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The boy was more than a bit special. We all saw that on his Inter debut in August 1997 on Ronaldo day. While the San Siro expected their summer signing from Barcelona to guide them past little Brescia, it was fellow new boy Alvaro Recoba who stole the show with two outstanding goals. A week later and the South American scored from the halfway line at Empoli. A star was truly born.
Recoba, though, never went on to become the greatest player in the world, he only developed into the most highly paid. Worshipped by owner Massimo Moratti, the Uruguayan more often than not wilted under the weight of expectation from the Nerazzurri chief and the success-starved Beneamata followers.
Numerous Coaches tried to successfully incorporate the talented left-footer into their plans – at the request of Moratti – but almost all failed. Asked to deliver immediate success under their axe-wielding employer, they needed consistency and El Chino was just unable to offer any. That not only frustrated Interisti, it annoyed football purists who acknowledged that Recoba was an artist of the game.
Former Inter boss Roberto Mancini summed it up best when asked to explain the enigma that is Alvaro. "He’s a genius,” admitted Mancio. “But like all geniuses, he has the ability to make you jump for joy or fill you with rage. We should just appreciate those moments in which his head and his feet are working in tandem."
Recoba sympathisers will argue that he was misunderstood, handicapped by the constant managerial changes at San Siro and hampered by various fitness issues. There’s an element of truth in those factors, but his biggest mistake was commandeering the heart of Moratti. He may have benefited financially because of that, but his career suffered as a result.
The 32-year-old simply remained at Inter for too long. The respect Moratti and himself shared for each other clouded the reality of his own needs. He required a fresh challenge, a club who could guarantee him first team football. Just like in 1998-99, when a six-month loan period at Venezia saw him score 10 goals and provide nine assists under the tutelage of Walter Novellino.
The two men teamed up again at Torino last season when the Montevideo native finally got fed up of the view from the Inter bench, but it was another campaign to forget after one goal in 22 games. That wasn’t enough for Toro to make his move permanent or enough for Moratti. After 53 goals in 175 League appearances for Inter, even he knew that it was time to let go of Alvaro Recoba – the player that never was.
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I make Recoba the perfect addition to the Milan squad. He’s the right age and plays in the right area of the pitch for Milan to sign him and make him great once more. Forza Milan!
Guy Sorce
Truly the man was a genius, I saw him when I was still in my teens playing in Uruguay. He took a free-kick in his half, a couple of metres from the halfway line – he didn’t score, but the ‘keeper was at full stretch and had to give away a corner.
Yet this potentially great player failed miserably at Inter, as you so rightly point out. The highest paid player in the world for a time, Moratti would be hard pressed to justify one week’s worth of wages to Alvaro.
Now I hear rumours of a move to Blackburn and I really wish it comes true. Even if we have two seasons from this man at Blackburn where he is playing at his best with Ince breathing fire at him, those would be two seasons to remember.
He would teach Robinho, Ronaldinho, Deco et al what it truly means to be great, the difference between class and genius. But I fear that is a delusional dream, the reality is that he is another feather in the cap for that graveyard that is Inter Milan.
Karim
It’s such a shame that Recoba never developed into a great player. I remember seeing on TV that first game he played back in 1997. I can not believe it’s so long ago. I remember thinking that this kid was going to be the new Roberto Baggio or Del Piero or Nedved.
Maybe on the basis of just pure talent, Alvaro Recoba should have been as good as the Divine Ponytail. But unlike him, Recoba did not begin his career at the Bianconeri, Inter were a shambles 10 years ago. Managerial revolving doors must have disrupted Recoba's development.
A pity calciopoli did not blow up years earlier as it would have allowed the Uruguayan forward to play in a strong and dominant Nerazzurri team where he could display his talents freely. I hope Recoba finds a new club – 32 is too young for him to retire.
Rob, Dublin
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