Written by Matteo Ciaramella
How many times has this headline emerged throughout the 2010s?
Many, way too many times.
Berardi-Juve, Inter assalto su Berardi, Chelsea tenta il colpo Berardi.
etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. We get it by now. Domenico Berardi is a precious gem found in the barren lands of U.S. Sassuolo Calcio. Everyone wants to get him out of there, yet no one seems to have accomplished this feat quite yet.
But let’s start from the beginning. Domenico Berardi is your typical creative, fast, agile winger, able to create chances out of nothing, with goals and assists that come pouring in every weekend.
Plain and simple, he is a star, a Serie A star. So why does he still play for Sassuolo?
Sassuolo are by all means a decent side. After spending decades playing in the lower divisions of Italian football, they have emerged as an opponent to fear in our league. Since their promotion to the top flight in 2013, Sassuolo have accumulated three top 8 finishes, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League in 2016, and regularly beating many of the 7 Sisters of Italian football.
Unfortunately, as good as that sounds, Berardi has long ago outgrown this team. He is undeniably worthy of a big contract, Scudetto contention, and Champions League football. Nearly a decade has passed since his “Serie B Player of the year” campaign in 2012-2013, when everyone thought he was going to be the next big thing. With 115 goals and 79 assists for his club, he has certainly met these expectations. However, Domenico is missing trophies and a higher profile. He needs to think about his future and what staying at Sassuolo will mean for his career. Will he become a club legend? Of course, he already is. But how is he going to be remembered by future generations? Will they see him for who he is as a player, or for what he has accomplished? What will the name “Domenico Berardi” mean in 50 years?
The man is nearing 30 years of age. He needs to start asking himself these questions. What does he want from his playing days? A trophy-less, yet memorable and loyal career à la Totti? Or finally leave his comfort zone for a bigger club, in hopes of winning something and becoming an international star?
Leaving Sassuolo could be exactly the right move. We have seen countless players gain attention thanks to stellar performances during their small-club tenures, and then proceeding to keep that level up even after their big transfers, ultimately becoming globally renowned legends. The world of Italian football has great examples in this sphere, like Roberto Baggio, Franco Baresi, Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini. I could go on for days. Moving to a bigger club within our league could take Berardi to the next level. The opposition is the same, but he’d be surrounded by world-class players. Logically, this should elevate him, his game, and his legacy.
With that being said, a big-club move could do the exact opposite. The pressure in an organization like Juventus or Inter is not for everybody. Some players are truly better off in small teams, with no obligation other than play football, do it well, and have fun. Living in the middle of the table is a lot easier on one’s mental health than having to constantly challenge for trophies. Players like Dejan Kulusevski, Federico Bernardeschi, and Alberto Grassi have all seen a regression in their careers after making this big decision. They were stars in their smaller clubs, while now, they’re stuck in mediocrity. Would it be so bad if Berardi went with the loyal route and stayed at Sassuolo? He still has time, and could bring the Neroverdi their first major trophy. Picture this: a club that for nearly a century was stuck between non-professional football and Italy’s third tier, constantly struggling to make any progress, suddenly gains two promotions in the matter of 5 years to reach the top flight, and then, with the help of the team’s best ever player, lifts a trophy. It would feel like something out of a movie – and who, in their right mind, would want to give up the main role in such a cinematic masterpiece?
Berardi faces a tough choice. In case he does decide to put faith into the Sassuolo project and allow the club to build a better squad around him, the future definitely has something good in store for him. If, on the contrary, he wants to leave, he would need to sign for a team that truly wants him and is willing to put him in an environment similar to Sassuolo’s. He has to be one of the centerpieces of the project, but also not have the pressure that a “win now mentality” club would instill in him and most probably cause him to crumble.
But enough talking about Berardi… What would you do?