The Case of Sebastian Giovinco

The days of Sebastian Giovinco could, unfortunately, be numbered if you believe your local news source. His status at the club has been the source of much controversy. Everyday there seems to be a new story of him staying and him leaving. Depending on who you believe he is apparently headed to Napoli, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Palermo. I've heard several different teams and to be honest, I can't see him at any of them.

It is true that Sebastian didn't start out supporting Juve as a young boy in Torino. He was born a Milan fan, but as he put it,  after 14 years playing for Juventus, he became a Juventino. He represents what it means to be Juventino - he is talented, he is young and he plays with more passion than most players today. As a long time Giovinco supporter, these rumours of him leaving my beloved Juventus disgust me. The fact that our management are even contemplating selling him, in my opinion, is a disgrace. Instead of wasting our time with overrated, washed up and overpaid Brasilians we should be building the future Juventus around this kid. He is 23 and is one of the brightest young stars in Italy.

I have heard him be compared to many, but recently I have been hearing people negatively compare him to Lionel Messi. They say that Giovinco doesn't deserve a spot on Juventus because in comparison to Messi, Seba has not reached the same level and he is older than Messi. There are several reasons why this comparison is completely unfair, but I think the most obvious reason would be the amount of playing time each player gets. This season Giovinco saw the pitch 19 times. Messi, on the other hand, saw the pitch 52 times. That is a BIG difference. Not to mention the injury ridden season Giovinco endured this year. That statistic alone is enough to warrant this comparison insignificant. The amount of time Giovinco has spent on the pitch this season is not enough for someone to be able to say that he doesn't deserve to play for Juventus, especially when you compare him to other members of the current squad. The performances he's had this season have not been his best by any means, but what do you expect from a player who spends most of the time on the bench? A player cannot develop or get better if he doesn't play, it's nearly impossible. Experience is what brings better performances when someone has talent. Neither experience nor talent alone can make a player good, they have to have both (i.e. Messi). Sadly, Giovinco only has the talent right now. If he has to be compared to someone who gets more playing time then him, look at Amauri. Week in and week out Juventini have to watch this man search for the net, which I'm almost positive he couldn't find even if he was standing inside it. And where was Giovinco? Well, when he wasn't injured, he was sitting on the bench. He is definitely doing a hell of a lot of good sitting there now isn't he?

I don't know what the management will do with him, but I for one am hoping that he stays and that next season he sees the pitch as often as Messi did this season. At least then if he doesn't play well Juventini can say they gave him a chance and he just didn't make the cut. The fact that homegrown talent has to be amazing to get regular playing time, as some people think, is absolutely disgusting. We are NOT Inter and the fact that some people think that mind set is ok is totally disturbing. When the million dollar men you sign CLEARLY are not performing then you have to put your faith in your young, homegrown talent because I'm almost positive knowing they have something to prove will make them perform a hell of a lot better than the guy the club spent WAY too much money on. I can understand he wants to leave if he won't be played because he can't waste the rest of his career on our bench. It isn't fair to him. The fact that he has chosen to stay even without playing time speaks volumes. I can almost guarantee that if players like Melo and Amauri were being benched they would beg for a transfer. There aren't many players that would accept that for this long. It just shows his love for this team. A love that I wish so many of our players had, but never will because they care too much about the name on the back of the jersey than the one on the front. Our problem is our management signed a whole bunch of indiviudals, which is why Juve's been unable to play like a TEAM.

No matter what happens this summer I will always support SuperSeba on which ever he team he ends up at, although I would much rather see him with the Juventus crest over his heart. If I ever get the chance to meet him and speak with him I think the first thing I would say was sorry on behalf of the club I love. I'm sorry that Juve abandoned you for players who don't even deserve our colours on their backs. I'm sorry that no one in the club stood up for you. I'm sorry that you spent so much wasted time injured and on the bench. But most of all, I'm sorry that you have so much love, respect, passion and loyalty for a club who has done nothing but stop you from living your dream over the past seasons. I only hope that the new management find a starting place for you at Juventus next season and you can live your dream.

No matter what anyone says, forever and always, I will be on Team Seba. He has been an inspiration to me and for many children. He will always be a champion to me and will only ever be Juventino in my eyes.