Farewell to football, yes, but 90% of the time. Because Leonardo Pavoletti wants to keep a glimmer of hope open, at least until January. Because a final stint abroad isn't out of the question.

This is how the former Cagliari centre-forward spoke about his future in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport: «If something that appeals to me were to come out… I'm looking for a life experience regardless of money, Dubai or maybe Australia to allow my children to see the world» .

Pavoletti retraces his entire career. From his arrival in Serie A, which was late, because "maybe at 18 I wasn't even thinking about becoming a footballer. My appetite started to water little by little, and I have to thank my parents for being very supportive, even though I didn't have a plan B."

And then Sassuolo, Genoa, Napoli. And finally Cagliari, his longest stint, nine years, crowned by the 94th-minute goal in Bari that gave an entire island a return to Serie A.

"I was coming back from an injury," he recalls. "At San Nicola, in the second leg of the play-off final, Ranieri wanted to keep the scoreless until the 75th minute, and I thought I'd come on at that moment. I warmed up for the whole half but only came on in the 89th minute, nervous and really pissed off . Not even the goal calmed me down. Was it a mistake not to enjoy it? No, I've been enjoying it for three years."

Finally, the striker reveals an email that deeply touched and moved him, received from a young man from Cagliari: "After the news came out that I was quitting, I received this email. The boy told me about his relationship with a very strict, cold father, who after my goal against Bari burst into tears and hugged his son for the first time ."

(Unioneonline)