Dear Cristiano, I'm confused
I'm a fan of yours but I hate Juve, what am I supposed to do now?
July 12th, 2018
Dear Cristiano,
The author of this letter has been a fan of yours since 2005, when you were just starting that masterpiece that is your career today. I don't know if I could put down in words how you became my idol. I don't know about the others, but I choose my sport heroes based both on the emotions they make me feel and on the feeling that shamelessly supporting them is a kind of rebellious act.
When everyone was against LeBron James after his decision to join Miami Heat, I started loving him. When everyone was talking about the greatness of Leo Messi, I would do the 'keep calm' gesture with my hands, as you do when you gloat. So why am I writing to you? Because during all these years spent between Manchester United, Real Madrid and Portugal, I was living my quiet - so to speak - Genoa supporter existence and now that you signed with Juventus, I find myself at a crossroads: keep hating Juventus or keep loving you?
This time, in fact, I won't even try to hide my hate for the Old Lady even though, as a supporter and lover of the beautiful game, I must recognize its technical, managing, economic and organizing merits. But the fact remains that I spent a good part of my sports life on the Northern Steps, which made me realize that one of the worst 4 or 5 things in this world is Juventus.... A part from, of course, Sampdoria ( ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
Having cleared this, I think you can understand my dilemma. I just can't ignore you like this, like nothing happened, now that you've decided to play in Serie A. I mean, you really had to choose Juventus? Couldn't you have joined Inter or Milan? Or Naples? I know it's impossible, but I would have preferred it. Let me just say something else: I don't agree with those who say that your arrival will remarkably improve Italian football. Right because I consider you an exceptional player I'm in this situation. But I really did not see this coming.
Someone will say that I'm just jealous, but it's not the case. Of course I wasn't expecting you at Genoa, but... I must tell you, I've been picturing this "I'm coming home" for a few years now - perfectly exemplified by LeBron - to announce your coming back to the United. Or to PSG at worst...Or even City, even though I was never convinced about it. But not Juventus. I swear to you that my loyalty has been unwavering in all these years. When you were at United I was already familiar with you and I was following you, in fact the only jersey bearing your name in my closet is the one from the Red Devils from 2006/07, the season previous to your ultimate consecration and the following deal with Real Madrid.
But I'm telling you, beside the satisfaction of having started before anyone else, rooting for you was easy back then, when everyone was starting to appreciate CR7. It got a lot harder later, when the world was enjoying Messi's goals and Barcelona's tiki-taka, while I was watching all Mourinho's Real matches which - let's be clear - were not exactly entertaining. Nevertheless, I was always following you, with Madrid and with Portugal, even when - or above all when - the Argentinian dominance looked overwhelming. Instead...
On the other hand, in the following years nobody - not even me maybe - could foresee your growth. When the average player starts his decline, you proved you have nothing to do with average and never stopped rising. Four Champions Leagues in five years, three in a row, five Ballon d'Ors, Golden Shoe, Liga and the sensational European with Portugal.
You understand my dilemma now? I mean, I'm not demanding anything, but I hoped this could be the moment when I could enjoy your evident football superiority, boasting I was one of the first to do it. And instead you join Juventus. I'm not sure there's a solution for this though. I'm considering options like "hating Juve in the league/supporting it in the Champions", but I'm not sure it will work. To be honest, I'm not even sure I can still hate Juventus now that you've joined it.
To sum up, my dear Cristiano... you made a real mess.