At 28, the Lombard midfielder, protagonist in C with the Dolomiti Bellunesi, opens the album of memories of a career lived between ups and downs, between illusions, joys and a present, in Veneto, which brings satisfaction and new goals: “I can’t help but be happy, it’s my best season”
Luca Clemenza opened the album of memories and discovered it full of advice: “About Morata, above all. He came from the Real Madrid youth team and understood well how I could feel.” Yes, how does someone feel who plays for Vicenza until the age of fourteen and then receives the investiture as center forward of the Juventus academy? Full of responsibility, yet with broad shoulders: Clemenza made his way with goals. There is no shortage of those in the album, until a tour in 2018 with Allegri, Cristiano Ronaldo and company. Then a long tour in the province and a couple of cruciate injuries. We needed the good air of the Belluno Dolomites to find ourselves: 10 goals with the newly promoted team in Serie C and the goal of salvation more alive than ever, because “relegation is a stain not only for a club, but for each of its players. And it must be avoided at all costs”.
Last year the mission failed, with Sestri Levante.
“And it wasn’t easy to start again. But since the beginning of the summer transfer window they called me here, from the Belluno Dolomites: I didn’t know the project and the reality of this newly promoted team, I gradually fell in love with it. I’d say we’re giving each other satisfaction.”
Today you would be safe, and for the first time in your career you have reached double figures.
“I can’t help but be happy: it’s my best season. At 28 I also think I’ve reached a certain maturity on and off the pitch. And it makes me proud to see that every goal has brought points to the team.”
He scored ten, let’s choose the best one.
“For aesthetics, the heel turn with Pro Patria wins: it came out very elegant”.
“I’ll take the last ones: the goal against Inter Under 23 and the hat-trick against Ospitaletto. Also because I had never scored three in the same match.”
As a former Juventus player, is scoring against Inter always a little more enjoyable?
“Yes, of course. I can’t forget the Turin years.”
At 14, Inter, Juve and Milan contacted me but the Bianconeri made me feel wanted
Tell us how your story in black and white began.
“I was playing a summer tournament with Vicenza, I was fourteen. In those months Inter, Juve and Fiorentina contacted me: there were many requests. However, Juve immediately welcomed me into their environment, making me feel wanted. And when they call you, you don’t even think about stalling. My father always followed me and immediately accepted the idea of knowing I was away from home, for my mother it was a little less easy. But they always followed me when they could, and it wasn’t a given: many boys, in those years in the Juventus youth academy, gave up because they were too attached to loved ones that they never saw.”
She scored in all the youth categories, then landed in the Primavera.
“We were a strong and well-knit group: there were Romagna, Audero, Lirola, Vitale who is now at Vicenza… It was clear that a large part of that team could then go professional: we played well, I’m still in contact with a good part of them. We see each other once a year, to say goodbye and update each other.”
Then, in 2018, Allegri called.
“I had spent the initial training camp with the first team before the tour and I was already happy with that, but when I learned of the call-up for the summer friendlies too it was an enormous joy. That was an unforgettable summer for me: we played against Real Madrid, Bayern and I scored a great goal against Benfica. Crazy moments.”
“I’ll be honest: in that team, for a young striker like me, it was really difficult to think of emerging. There were Dybala, Higuain, Douglas Costa, Mandzukic…”.
“When you see him you realize how literally he is built to compete at top levels. At that time Juve were in their best form: I felt I was good, but the overall level was sensational.”
During training, who was he trying to steal with his eyes?
“I always watched Dybala, because as a player he drove me crazy. But I received many valuable pieces of advice over the years: Morata often watched the youth teams and stopped to talk to us. And when we were younger we attached ourselves like magnets to Pirlo and Marchisio, because everything they did on the pitch was the right thing: football of another level.”
Injuries have slowed me down, luckily my family and my partner Federica have never let me lack their support
After Juventus, a lot of Serie C.
“And more than one dark moment. Injuries have slowed me down, luckily my family and my partner Federica have never let me lack their support. And then Ludovica recently arrived: every time I sign I make an L with my hand, I enclose our whole world in a letter.”
“First salvation with the Dolomites. Then we’ll see: I always aspire to return to the top.”
As his Vicenza did by winning the championship. Happy for them?
“The city and the fans deserve it. And if I have to mention a player who impressed me, I’ll mention Stuckler: very strong, already ready for the higher categories.”
Foil: if the Belluno Dolomites are saved, what will Luca Clemenza do?
“I haven’t thought about it yet, but if I look back at the most difficult moments I had during the year I try to go out of my way and propose taking everyone out to dinner. A nice party, in short. But I don’t want to do anything crazy: I have a family…”.
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