Nicola Pozzi [Empoli] - could be out for the season - TalkSoccer

**D-Kin** · 21-03-2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Nicola Pozzi faces a terrible choice – miss six weeks of the season and possibly the European Under-21 Championships or lose the use of his finger.

The Empoli striker snapped a tendon in his right hand during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

It was initially reported that he would undergo surgery in Modena on Friday, which would keep him out of action for six weeks, but it has now emerged he could make a life-long sacrifice for his sport.

Pozzi is considering playing on with the injury and therefore losing the use of the ring finger in his right hand.

“I don’t know what to do,” said the 20-year-old. “I spoke to my parents, but now the decision is up to me. It is not a choice that will necessarily change my life, but it will certainly have a huge effect on this campaign for me.”

If he goes under the knife to correct the tendon problem, he will not be able to play again until May.

This would make it unlikely he would be called by Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi for the European Under-21 Championships, which are in Holland from June 10-23.

channel4.com - Football Italia

Wow, this is a tough break.

I can understand why it's such a huge decision for him but surely the use of his finger is more important.

Aladino · 22-03-2007, 05:41 PM

Pozzi, I hope he knows what he is doing. i respect the fact that he wants to play for Empoli, and they really need to keep up there good form. And how he really wants to play in the U21's but this is hand.

I wish him the best of luck with whatever descision he makes. A gerat player, IN BOCCA AL LUPO!

Forza_Roma · 22-03-2007, 05:56 PM

What's he thinking!!!!!!!!! Have the surgery right away. How can he conflicted on this decision. He's 20 years old....losing the feeling in his finger for the rest of his life would be the worst mistake he could possible make. He will want to become a father one day, and every time he picks up his child, will be thinking why he can't feel it in the finger.

The club should forbid him from playing, thus results in him having the surgery. Very upsetting that he would consider not having the surgery. He has tops 15 years left in calcio......he has the rest of this life to use his finger!

Aladino · 22-03-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Pozzi gives surgery the finger Thursday 22 March, 2007

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Nicola Pozzi will sacrifice the future use of his finger in a bid to help Empoli secure European qualification.

The striker snapped a tendon in his right hand during the 3-1 defeat to Lazio at the weekend and medics ruled that surgery was required.

But going under the knife would have seen him ruled out of action for six weeks, thus sidelining him from the Tuscan club’s fantastic campaign and possibly ending his dream of reaching June’s Under-21 European Championships.

As a result, Pozzi has taken the extraordinary decision of snubbing an operation which will result in him losing the mobility of his ring finger.

“I’ll still have my finger, I just won’t be able to bend or move it,” noted Pozzi. “Thank goodness that I write with my left hand… At least he has some sense of humour

“It’s obviously not a nice thing, but I considered all of the positives and the negatives,” he added.

“When my grandchildren ask me why my finger is like it is then I can tell them about this magnificent season with Empoli.

“Europe is at stake for both club and country for me. At Empoli we are just outside the top four and are fighting for something more important than just survival.

“And then I might get an Azzurrini call too!”

The loss of Pozzi would have left boss Gigi Cagni with a striker shortage, but the tactician insists he put no pressure on the youngster.

“Only he could make the decision and I’m sure he will mature as a person because of it,” noted the Coach.

“He was at a crossroads and he made his choice. He now has to forget about it though and look to the future.

“I personally think he has made the right decision, even if I didn’t tell him of my feelings when he asked me for some advice.

“It was a personal decision and he was free to choose because we have 42 points and top-flight safety assured.”

Well he has made his decision! I hope he doesn't land up regretting it. This is man with a whole lot of passion for the game, for the Azzurrini and for his team. A huge desicion one that will stay with him fo rthe rest of his life!

Forza_Roma · 22-03-2007, 07:54 PM

Stupid move in my opinion...the club should be ashamed of themselves. No way i would every jeopardize a players health in any regards for the game if i was manager. I would threaten to sit him every game, in hope's he fixes the finger.

Diabolico · 22-03-2007, 08:27 PM

But it was his choice-- it's his finger, and in my opinion the ultimate decision of what to do with it is rightly his and his alone, not the club's. So long as the decision was Pozzi's and the club didn't force him into it, I respect the club for giving him this kind of freedom.

And as for Pozzi himself... incredible!!! Now THAT is passion and dedication! Maybe he'll regret it, maybe he won't-- it's true that he'll always have a dead finger to remember this decision by, but had he decided to operate, who knows if he would regret that even more? He'd have that movable finger to remind him of the road not taken.

It's a reckless choice, but I can't help but have an incredible amount of respect for a guy with that level of commitment. Simply amazing; I had never paid much attention to Pozzi before, but now I plan to watch him next time they show Empoli here.

Forza_Roma · 22-03-2007, 08:33 PM

Ya, he's given up so much for his club......even the mobility of his finger....but what has the club done for him in return? The club should of took a stand and ensured he fixed the finger...someway or the other! He's still a kid...what are his parents thinking as well!

**dukeofdavinci** · 22-03-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Stupid move in my opinion...the club should be ashamed of themselves. No way i would every jeopardize a players health in any regards for the game if i was manager. I would threaten to sit him every game, in hope's he fixes the finger.

bingo my man

.

a man who doesnt know how to appriciate what god had given him.lets say empoli didnt make it then what??.

he is young still pleanty of time to reach europe.if not next season then in the future then.europe is not going to run its still there.even if he is not there,the whole of empoli wil try its not like he is the only player duhhh...there are another 20++ players in the club.

**D-Kin** · 23-03-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forza_Roma

Stupid move in my opinion...the club should be ashamed of themselves. No way i would every jeopardize a players health in any regards for the game if i was manager. I would threaten to sit him every game, in hope's he fixes the finger.

It's nothing to do with the club though, it's his decision.

Personally I would have had the operation but this just shows how passionate people are about calcio.

Forza_Roma · 23-03-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeofdavinci

bingo my man

.

a man who doesnt know how to appriciate what god had given him.lets say empoli didnt make it then what??.

he is young still pleanty of time to reach europe.if not next season then in the future then.europe is not going to run its still there.even if he is not there,the whole of empoli wil try its not like he is the only player duhhh...there are another 20++ players in the club.

True...and let's face it...even if Empoli secure a Uefa spot, is that a big enough competition to risk your finger? It's not CL, even if it were CL, he still shouldn't risk it. If it were the WC, then that's a different story... and i can see where he would come from...

<--- it's not that finger Duke..it's the right ring

Quote:

It's nothing to do with the club though, it's his decision.

Personally I would have had the operation but this just shows how passionate people are about calcio.

Yes, it's ultimately it's his decision, it's his finger so he should do what he wants with it. But how can the club sit there and do nothing...it's a matter of a player becoming physically disabled in an area of the body...i know i couldn't sleep at night knowing i didn't do everything in my power to avoid the situation! But to each their own, i guess!

Diabolico · 23-03-2007, 06:33 PM

It's just his ring finger though; honestly that's not a really huge loss if you ask me, other than for speedtypers or pianists. But I know it's more the principal of the thing and a question of whether this kind of sacrifice is foolish and shortsighted or admirably hardcore. To me it's the latter, but yeah, to each their own of course!

Aladino · 23-03-2007, 07:32 PM

Well I still admire his decision, he has been very brave and this is the pure example of passion. Calcio does this to you, for some italians they live their lives around calcio and clearly Pozzi is one. If he wasn't playing he would probably be in one of the curva's somewhere cheering his team on. I admire the guy, at such a young age he has made a huge decision, and I hope it all pays off in the end.

**D-Kin** · 09-12-2007, 03:32 PM

Empoli are currently beating Cagliari 4-1 with Pozzi scoring all four goals!!

**Jager** · 10-12-2007, 03:47 AM

Damn it, nobody has uploaded the goals. The second time that he has done this, incredible!

Aladino · 10-12-2007, 07:13 AM

This is great for Pozzi he has returned to scoring ways. I saw his first goal and I had a feeling he would score again but not FOUR. Brlliant stuff by him, he is a real talent. Let's hope he continues with this form.