Summer of 1987Napoli are the reigning champions in Serie A and, to avoid history repeating itself, Silvio Berlusconi he has a clear plan in mind. First of all he hires that coach who, every time his Milan played against Parma, impressed him with his command of the game and with those disruptive ideas. Arrigo Sacchi on the benchthen. Then talent is needed. And the president is heavy-handed: they arrive Mark Van Basten from Ajax and Ruud Gullit from PSV. In the middle of the field there is also Angelo Colombo. However, Sacchi would like another purchase in those turfs, convinced as he is that matches are won there. He would like to take Charles Ancelotti from the Rome.
Silvio listens to him, also because he knows he is absolutely well covered in the other departments. There are Baresi, Maldini, Tassotti, Filippo Galli and a young Costacurta behind, Virdis, Massaro and Mannari up front, Donadoni and Evani to distribute flair on the wing. Having said goodbye to Ray Wilkins, another move in the middle can’t hurt.
Except that when the Milan doctor visits Carletto, he finds a problem that is anything but trivial. 20% disability in one knee. When he hears about it, Berlusconi shakes his head and stops everything. He won’t take a risk like that, he says. The deal, for him, falls through: Milan will send Ancelotti back to Rome and will head straight for another objective to strengthen itself. End of discussion. Sacchi, however, doesn’t listen, because he remains convinced that Ancelotti can be the linchpin of his midfield, and insists.
“In Rome they said he was poor – Arrigo confessed in an interview many years later – but I didn’t think so”. So he entered the president’s office and, having already understood his charisma, decided that the only way to achieve his goal was to challenge him. He had to demonstrate that he was absolutely convinced of his ideas, because Silvio loves to invest in dreamers and courageous people.
“Mr President, knees can be cured, but not the head.“. Here’s the first thrust: let’s not waste a talent like that just because he has a physical problem. Let’s not miss the opportunity to put a silent leader on the team. Berlusconi mulls it over, but he’s not yet convinced. Second thrust: “If she takes Ancelotti from me, we’ll win the championship”. Touché. Here is the lever that was needed. Silvio senses the fierce obstinacy of his coach and decides to indulge him: it is one of those rare moments in which history takes a right turn. A sliding door taken at the right time.
Why Sacchi’s prophecy will come true: Milan first in the championship in the end
of the year and Ancelotti the great protagonist. It will be the same in the following years, contributing to write a monstrous cycle and proving to be, for Berlusconi and Sacchi, one of the best bets ever.