MILAN - Pierluigi Casiraghi was always there when he wasn’t travelling the world to uncover talents.
He left his mark on the youth sides’ trophies won in the 21st Century with his eye for potential and spotting talent from among thousands. But above all, he was a beacon, a guide as he provided inspiration at a club which was founded 110 years ago by men like him who were proud, hardworking and open to the world.
He had a story or something to say to everybody. From Brianza, he was proud of his work and committed to it until the end. He was a sommelier of talent, a natural scout and it was his true vocation. He preferred the humble pitches around the peripheries to a world of luxury hotels and big tournaments. Because of this, he was able to discover Goran Pandev and Jonathan Biabiany who was a guy who almost by chance became a part of Inter history.
"I need to see a spark," he remarked. "Something that makes me fall in love in a footballing sense. I resist the temptation to see them in action a second time, otherwise I risk noting the flaws."
Some would become greats and some would fall away by the roadside as you can never know what will happen with a young guy but he never gave up in any case. He kept his contacts, brought them to dinner and helped them to understand Italian football on and off the pitch, speaking with some quips from Milanese dialect thrown in. He was a true football man in terms of his spirit and heart.
Ciao Casi. It will be strange not seeing you there at the Facchetti Centre at the side of the pitch with your jeans, polo shirt and sunglasses. It will be strange not seeing how your guys behave in training while you go around with a story to tell for everyone: directors, ground staff, players or employees.
