Over the past month and a half, Palermo have gone through a coaching carousel. The club president, Maurizio Zamparini, sacked Delio Rossi and appointed Serse Cosmi in his place only to fire Cosmi four games later and put Rossi back in charge. Yet, recent allegations made by Serse Cosmi involving Zamparini have perhaps revealed a crisis beyond coaching.

Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport, the most recent Palermo ex coach shed some light on some of the reasons behind his cataclysmic formation changes that left both Javier Pastore and Fabrizio Miccoli on the bench in the Sicily derby. Cosmi claimed that he and Zamparini had talked over the telephone about the proposed formation for the upcoming match – one that started Miccoli but sat Pastore. According to Serse, Zamparini was angry about the exclusion of Pastore but even more incensed about the inclusion of Miccoli. The ex went on to state that Miccoli got wind of the president’s comments and approached Cosmi, telling him to “think of himself” and keep him out of the lineup because he knew everything.

Upon hearing these incendiary accusations, Zamparini denied them straightaway by stating they represented a “small vendetta that are customarily made by small men”. The Palermo president professed his love for Miccoli saying that there was never any discussion about the Rosanero captain whatsoever and that “Fabrizio is the captain, the flag of Palermo and the player I love the most.” In addition to the vendetta reference, the patron slammed Cosmi for his bitterness and his imbalance that led him to declaring untruths to the newspapers. Naturally, all eyes turn to Miccoli to find out who is telling the truth.

And yet, in the midst of the back-and-forth between Cosmi and Zamparini, one thing is unsettling: the silence of Fabrizio Miccoli. Normally after such a terrible derby loss, the team captain would be the first to speak out not only to the media but also to the fans. However, during the bus trip back to Palermo after the derby, Miccoli was one of the few players who was dropped off before reaching the Renzo Barbera. Since that day, there have been no comments from the iconic figure. Clearly, Fabrizio Miccoli is not enduring a positive moment at the club.

If the story behind Miccoli’s absence is true, it would reveal a crisis at Palermo that extends beyond the routine coaching changes. The Romario of Salento has etched his name into Rosanero history, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer in Serie A as well as one of its most beloved figures. Let’s not forget that the Palermo captain came off of his best professional year last season and received a phenomenal transfer offer from Birmingham City over the summer. Miccoli ultimately rejected that offer out of his love and loyalty for Palermo, choosing heart over money. Such an insipid spurn from Maurizio Zamparini, if true, would certainly make Miccoli regret his decision to stay in Rosanero.

Meanwhile, Palermo fans are taking note of this situation, anxiously awaiting clarity. After all, a split between Zamparini and a beloved player is not something without precedent at Palermo. The fans have seen it before with the likes of Zauli, Corini and Jimmy Fontana all get pushed away before ultimately leaving the club. Even any inkling of another similar scenario regarding Miccoli could result in the last straw that sways public opinion against Zamparini.

The speculation regarding the Miccoli situation is incomprehensible. Cosmi did the wrong thing by speaking out against the president in order to save face. Instead of taking a page from the Delio Rossi playbook and staying quiet, Serse aired out all his perceptions regarding the club for everyone to see. The comments served no purpose other than to further place a burden on the players with the accusations being made, Miccoli above all. Zamparini, in an effort to quash the “preposterous allegations”, was also in the wrong by calling into question Cosmi’s character instead of merely denouncing the claims.

In all of this, what remains certain is that Fabrizio Miccoli is vital to Palermo. He is the team captain, a true team player and the real fuoriclasse in Rosanero. His efforts in the shirt have always been at 100% even when he wasn’t physically at 100% . He should be appreciated for all that he has done for Palermo and all that he will continue to do for the club and city. He has always been a man of his word, open and honest in everything he says. Fabrizio Miccoli has never been one to shy away from the truth and now is the time for Zamparini and Cosmi to come forward and tell him the truth. At the very least, that is what Miccoli deserves to hear.

Lorenzo Vicini