Fiorentina legend Gabriel Batistuta apologises to fans for joining Roma after receiving freedom of Florence
- Remained with Tuscan club even after relegation
- Serie A's top goal scorer in 1994-95
- Scored against Arsenal and Manchester United
- Only player to net hat-tricks at two World Cups
GABRIEL BATISTUTA was given the freedom of Florence on Monday — and admitted his regret at leaving the Tuscan club for Roma.
The legendary Argentina striker was at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and regularly scored goals at a time when Serie A defences were the best around.
And he showed he’s not lost his touch as he netted three in an Italy vs the Rest of the World match on Monday evening.
Batistuta rarely takes to the field any more as serious issues with his cartilage and tendons in his knees have left him with screws in his legs.
However, you don’t lose that class.
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And an emotional Batistuta declared his love for the city at the ceremony, admitting: “I’ve always considered Florence as my girlfriend. I don’t have to explain my love for this city.”
Before adding: “I felt terrible when I went to Roma, because I hadn’t fulfilled the expectations of the Florentines.”
Batistuta — nicknamed Batigol — is considered a true legend, and compatriot Diego Maradona once described him as “the best centre-forward of all-time.”
He moved to Fiorentina from Boca Juniors in 1991 after finishing as top goal scorer in that summer’s Copa America — which Argentina won.
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In his second season with the club, he suffered relegation to Serie B, but rejected offers from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United to remain loyal to ‘his’ team.
Despite playing in Italy’s second tier, he starred at that summer’s World Cup, scoring a hat-trick.
In his first season back in Serie A, Batistuta finished as the leading goal scorer with 26 — breaking a 30-year-old record of netting in each of his first 11 games.
He again finished as top scorer in the 1995 Copa America and three years later made history as the only player ever to hit hat-tricks in two World Cups.
Lionel Messi recently broke his record goals tally for Argentina.
In 1998-99, he almost led Fiorentina to a first league title in 30 years — but an injury saw La Viola fall away and finish third.
He still enjoyed a stellar season and finished fourth and third respectively in the Ballon d’Or and Fifa World Player of the Year standings.
In the 1999-00 season, he scored stunners away at Arsenal and United in the Champions League.
That summer, he broke Florentina hearts when he moved to Roma to form a stellar strike force with Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella — and, at the age of 33, won his first Scudetto.
He famously scored a free-kick against his former club and wept, rather than celebrated.
After three seasons in the Italian capital, he moved to Inter Milan on loan before finishing his career in Qatar.
