Batigol – Fiorentina’s lethal finisher (Video)
Gabriel Batistuta was one of the finest strikers of his generation. Not only did he look like Jesus, with long flowing hair and a rugged beard, but at times he also played like he had been blessed from above. Accompanied by Manuel Rui Costa in an otherwise unforgettable Fiorentina team, his goals led them to Champions League football and several top six league finishes.
Hailed by Diego Maradona as the best striker that he had ever seen, his quality earned him a regular spot in the Argentina national team and to this day he is their highest ever goal scorer with 56 goals in 78 matches.
Whilst he never won Serie A whilst at Fiorentina, his incredible record of 168 league goals in 269 league games earned him the eternal admiration and love of the fans in Florence. His dedication to Fiorentina probably cost him the chance of winning more silverware, but as a mark of respect for such a loyal servant, including staying with the club during its relegation to Serie B in 1993, they erected a life-size bronze statue of him in 1996. It was only when he finally left the ‘Viola’ to sign for Roma, at the age of 31, that he finally managed to lift the Serie A title.
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