Roma and Fiorentina legend Gabriel Omar Batistuta visited the Giallorossi’s training centre on Friday, returning for the first time in 23 years.
Argentine legend Batistuta is currently in Italy, and he paid a visit to his former club Roma on Friday, meeting coach Gian Piero Gasperini, advisor Claudio Ranieri and all the players, including his compatriot Paulo Dybala.
Batistuta returns to the Roma training centre
Batistuta was part of the last Roma squad that won the Scudetto in 2000-01.
He spent two and a half years in the capital, scoring 33 goals in 88 matches.
He left Roma in January 2003 to join Inter, where he spent six months.
AS Roma forward Antonio Cassano (L) hugs Argentinian striker Gabriel Omar Batistuta who marked his come-back to the pitch by scoring the winning goal over Hellas Verona during their Italian Serie A first division match AS Roma vs Hellas Verona on Sunday, 13 January 2002 at Rome’s Olympic Stadium. As Roma recovered from a 0-2 first half to win 3-2 and keep the lead in the championship. EPA PHOTO ANSA/CLAUDIO ONORATI/mp/mda
Batistuta retired in 2005 after spending two seasons at Al-Arabi.
“I haven’t been to Trigoria since I left the club in January 2003 to join Inter. 23 years have gone by – that’s a long time,” Bati told Roma’s official website.
“It’s always nice to return to a place where you’ve had a good time, and I’m happy to see old friends again.”
“I had a lot of fun here and reaped the rewards of a long career – I managed to win a historic Scudetto for myself and for Roma,” he continued.
“We picked up 75 points and I scored 20 goals. The city exploded with joy – it was hugely satisfying.
Gabriel Batistuta
“We were a top group of players. There was me, Francesco Totti, Cafu, Walter Samuel, Emerson, Vincenzo Montella, this fella next to me (Candela, ed.) and Marco Delvecchio, to name but a few. We were top of the league for practically the entire season and we sealed it at home, in front of our fans, on what was an unforgettable day.”