Gonzalo Bergessio’s retirement: emotional post, memory of the ‘atrocious silence’ and supporting role in the Icardi-Maxi López scandal

“I think it’s time to stop the ball…“were the words with which Gonzalo Lavender Bergessio He opened his emotional farewell message to football. At his 39 years oldthe Argentine striker who last played for Tristán Suárez has decided to retire from professional activity and start a new phase in his personal life.

“Mixed feelings invade me; on the one hand the sadness and bitterness of not being able to play football at a professional level and on the other the satisfaction and pride of having been able to develop the sport that I like most at the highest levels for 22 years”, developed the ‘striker, who brings with him more than 700 games and 238 goals on the back.

And he added: “I remember that moment at Platense when, at just 17 years old, I had to make my debut in the first team, unaware of everything beautiful that football and life had in store for me.”

In this sense Lavandina took the opportunity to express her gratitude towards the dozens of clubs where he had the opportunity to leave his goalscoring contribution forever. “I want to thank all the clubs who gave me the confidence to defend their colours: Sociedad de Fomento Fernando Hidalgo, Platense, Instituto de Córdoba, Racing, San Lorenzo, Benfica from Portugal, Saint Etienne from France, Catania from Italy, Atlas from Mexico, Vélez, Nacional from Uruguay and Tristán Suarez”, continued the striker characterized by his imposing physique.

Just as he hasn’t forgotten the teams that allowed him to build his career, Lavandina hasn’t forgotten the people closest to him either. Among them, he mentioned his parents, the people in charge of taking care of him as a child, the “hardcore” friends, the representative of him and David Suárez, the one who encouraged Bergessio to try for the first time in a club.

However, the one who received a special mention was Daniela Recupero, his partner. “Thank you above all to my wife, for always being there, for being my support and giving me my most precious treasures: my children Valentino, Francesca and María, who are my everything and whom I love deeply,” Bergessio said.

And finally, before “starting a new stage in life”, Lavandina left his sign of affection “to all the football fans” who have always encouraged him, “because without them nothing would exist”. “Thank you and see you always“, closed the reader.

Perhaps, where they keep the most beautiful memories of Bergessio, in addition to their beloved Platense, is right there Saint Lawrence AND Nationalwhere he achieved the best scoring averages of his career.

In the Cyclone he was able to convert 26 goals in 70 games played during 2008 and 2009, it is worth highlighting that double at the Monumental for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, where by drawing 2-2, Boedo’s team eliminated River with a goal from a guest, despite having two players in less. Hence, the forward would have a slow pace throughout 2016 and 2017.

The Montevideo club would be the place where Bergessio, in addition to getting tired of scoring goals, also got tired of scoring titles. During a phase that extended from 2018 to 2021, in 191 games Lavandina won eight trophies with Bolso and scored 91 goals. He even became the team captain.

The stay in Catania, with Maxi López and Icardi as close friends and a tragic end

In addition to having left his mark in South America, Bergessio is also remembered in Europe. Especially in Catania of Italyclub where he achieved his best performance in the Old Continent, scoring 37 goals in 113 games played.

The club that currently sails in the waters of the third division of football, at the time knew how to have an Argentine attacking duo between 2011 and 2014. In those years Lavandina knew how to be a partner and close friend of Maxi López.

This friendship inevitably led Bergessio to meet Mauro Icardi, passing through Sampdoria and López’s best friend at the time. The aforementioned trident’s Argentine bond has gotten to the point that they spend their days in Italy seeing each other every day and even sharing holiday destinations with their families.

The composition of that group of friends was corrupted when the scandalous infidelity of Wanda Nara, wife of Maxi López, with Mauro Icardi. And during that media situation, Bergessio decided to defend his attacking partner.

“Right now I’m putting my friend Maxi on the benchbeyond Gilada’s words”, wrote the attacker via his Twitter account (now X), when consulted on the situation.

Furthermore, a few weeks ago, Wanda Nara gave an interview in which she revealed how the beginnings of her love story with her current husband were, with the coincidence that The model decided to tell an anecdote in which Bergessio may have been present.

“We were very good friends. He told me who he was dating and I told him I was separated. He told me he had four cell phones because he divided the women by continents. Crazy. We were friends, but I had already started working,” the TV host recalled.

And he added: “Once I invited him on a boat where there were several of us, I won’t name anyone so as not to offend sensibilities. My ex-husband was there, which is the famous photo where we’re all there. And at a certain point Mauro left me the phone and went to look for a speaker.”

“At that time he had two telephones. One was the post office, as the managers called it; and the other was the ‘chongas,’ where he had all the cats. I looked one way, I looked the other and the I threw at him in the water,” Wanda concluded.

Living near the Amalfi Coast at the time, the group of Argentine friends usually chose a private boat to relax as a place to spend their free days. The moment “of the famous photo” that Wanda recounted took place there, with the presence of Lavandina Bergessio who today only thinks about her future away from the courts.