Rafa Di Zeo spoke without filters: what is his connection with Riquelme and Macri, why Gareca doesn’t go to Boca and when Messi wanted to meet him

-If I want to be president of Boca, do I have to talk to you?

-No because?

-Can I apply outside the structure of La Doce?

-Yes of course.

But I don’t win.

-Ah OK. This is another thing…

At this point, no one should be surprised by the tremendous power it has Raffaele Dizeo and its people have inside Mouth. Historical leader of the club’s barra brava, Rafa has led the Xeneize fans for more than 30 years and today, despite being banned from entering the Bombonera (according to him the right to admission should be removed), he continues to be one of the bosses peaks of La Doce next to its hill, Mauro Martín. This Thursday, Di Zeo gave journalist Pablo Carrozza a heads up in which he talked about everything (and everyone) and left several interesting headlines: Why Ricardo Gareca direct to Boca, the link with Maurizio Macri AND Juan Roman Riquelme and the time that Lionel Messi wanted to meet him.

In July of last year, Gareca was one of the big candidates to lead Xeneize after the abrupt departure of Sebastian Battaglia. However, some fans opposed his arrival due to his move to River in 1984 and management preferred to direct the search to other coaches. At the time, President Jorge Ameal was not so convinced about hiring Tigre and the opinion of the bar association also weighed heavily in making a decision. Almost a year later, same Di Zeo hinted that Gareca will not manage Boca while he will take care of the bar, out of his fan anger and out of respect for his grandfather José Barritaformer fan boss who disappeared in 2001.

“It wasn’t just a matter of my grandfather, but of many people who were at Boca at that time, like me. Gareca is not a Boca coach because he preferred to go to River when he was at Boca. He didn’t want to play for Boca, win something for Boca or be a Boca idol. It’s not our fault. We don’t want him because he preferred River and not Boca, I don’t forget what happened. Even grandfather did not forget. He was managing the situation at the time and of course we will enforce that. Until the day we’re here, we’ll enforce itDi Zeo said.

Rafa also spoke of the period in which he was imprisoned and the Justice asked him to “hand over” Mauricio Macri in exchange for his freedom. “My brother (Fernando) and I were in prison. They asked us to hand over the man in the suit, who, according to them, was the one who helped the fans with things. The one in the suit and tie, over time, was Head of Government and President of the Nation. They told us: ‘if you call him go home, otherwise the destination would be Dutiful’. And we were 90 days in Dutiful, which means we didn’t name him. Subsequently, the person continued his career. And that person never remembered her, he never appreciated her. Or I don’t know if he knew. While he was president of Boca I tried to help Boca from my post. I know well the things I did and the things I didn’t do, and they know it too. What annoyed me the most is that they played politics with us. They took us off the field and lost the elections, not only the national ones, but also those of Boca“.

Another heavy character that Di Zeo referred to was Riquelmewho in his time as a player did not have much contact with the bar but in one of his last public appearances, already launched as a candidate in the December elections, greeted “the guys behind the door” and congratulated them on how they were “taking care” of society. On 12 April 2010, Martín Palermo scored against Arsenal and became the top scorer in Boca’s history. Riquelme assisted him masterfully but, instead of celebrating with the Titan, he decided to dodge the greeting and embrace with the 9. Days ago, on the 10th he had been crushed by the bar and that was his way of showing indifference towards the fans.

“When Riquelme said what he said was a different time than today, I was held back -Di Zeo said-. For something Riquelme said andSW. Apparently it wasn’t the deal as it should be. If she felt uncomfortable about something that happened, and she didn’t want to shout the goal with the people … Well, to be clear, just a few words. If you treat him badly or do things he doesn’t like, he has every right to do what he wants. My relationship with him has always been good, I’ve never had a bad relationship. Today I don’t have his phone nor does he have mine, noOr should I talk to him? Because I will speak,” Rafa wondered.

Finally, the leader of La Doce also spoke about Messi, who was the first to recognize as “Newell Fan” but then concluded by saying that, in his way of seeing things, Boca “likes it a lot”. According to Di Zeo, it was Leo himself who wanted to meet him. “I spoke to Messi, he said he wanted to meet me. When he was a boy I was already Rafa. He talked to a friend, he said he wanted to meet me and we met. And look what he said when he played at Bombonera, that what he liked the most about his career was that game because of the encouragement of the Boca people.”