A footballer in this era showing some loyalty is unheard of but there is seemingly a few exceptions. As Roberto Martinez showed by staying at Wigan when Aston Villa came calling, Angelo Palombo is now doing the same by staying with Sampodria after their relegation to Serie B.

The scenes of him crying at the end of the Palermo game - as he asked for the fans forgiveness behind both goals as the crowd applauded him - is something to remember as it showed that he cared and showed the passion.

Not the best technical player for ‘Doria, he showed grit and passion at the heart of midfield and he endeared himself to the fans as a firm favourite. He moved from Fiorentina to Sampdoria in 2002 and has been at the club ever since, eventually becoming the club captain. The previous season, Sampdoria had an amazing season and Angelo Palombo was the focal point in midfield, showing the nessacary determination needed to help the side finish fourth.

In the last 6 months of the season just gone Sampdoria went into complete meltdown, with Riccardo Garrone just completely losing the plot.

Late in 2010 Riccardo Garrone after falling out with Antonio Cassano, then fell out with the Sporting Director Sergio Gasparin. Sergio Gasparin then rescinded his contract over Riccardo Garrone dealing in the public over the Antonio Cassano saga and Gasparin didnt see eye to eye with the president over the transfer dealing with the club.

But the main problem was that Antonio Cassano had a massive falling out with the President over not going to an chairty event. This sparked a massive outburst in the press by Garrone who ostracised Antonio Cassano and eventually sold him to now Champions Milan for a low fee. The next player to leave was Cassano’s fellow striker Giampaolo Pazzini, was sold to Inter for around £10m just days before the transfer window. Pazzini recently came out in the press and gave the real reason he left, telling Gazzetta dello Sport “the truth is that they should of signed my contract time ago, but they never extended my agreement”.

The replacements for the two were Federico Macheda on loan from Manchester United for six months and Massimo Maccarone who was signed on a free transfer. Adding to that was Jonathan Biabiany as part of the Giampaolo Pazzini deal. Macheda only played a handful of games and found himself quite a lot in the stands and now has returned to his parent club. Maccarone also had problems on the pitch and off the pitch as he clashed with angry fans after some very poor displays on the pitch.

The last saga came on March 7th, the last straw for President Garrone as a home defeat against Cesena saw Domenico Di Carlo sacked after the game and the day after Alberto Cavasin was appointed as manager. The last two months of the season when Cavasin was in charge the club declined further still and were relegated with a game to go.

Now with the club in Serie B the club talisman came out in the press recently that he would want to stay with the club and not jump ship. Angelo Palombo wants to stay and get the club back from the doldrums of Serie B and back into the promise land. According to reports in Secolo XIX the captain of the club wants to remain at the club and is willing to take a pay cut as the financial restraints on the clubs will be taking its toll in Serie B.

Other players will leave Sampdoria such as Gianluca Curci, Daniele Mannini, Fernando Tissone and Andrea Poli but Angelo Palombo is showing the loyalty and heart which has made him a cult figure at the club. Angelo Palombo is making a massive sacrifice at the age of 29 and not moving to a bigger club so he can get international recognition and with this he gains massive respect.

Other players in football should take note; Angelo Palombo is a dying breed and shows that money doesn’t always talk loudest. Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez please take note.