Sassuolo star and Italy international Domenico Berardi had to be restrained by police after chasing a supporter who had angrily confronted him on Sunday.
It came in the aftermath of the Serie A side being dumped out of the Coppa Italia by lower-league Modena on Sunday. Alessio Dionisi’s side suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to the Serie B outfit, despite Berardi netting from the penalty spot during the game.
The 28-year-old is arguably the highest profile player on the books of Sassuolo and was among the Italian scorers in the penalty shootout of the nation’s Euro 2020 final triumph over hosts England a year ago – placing him in Italian football folklore.
Yet despite his status and goal in Sunday’s defeat, one fan of the club overstepped the mark with their confrontation of the star. Berardi was provoked into jumping over the barrier to chase the fan, with the player pursued by police and having to be restrained by two other fans in the area.
Berardi has subsequently apologised for the incident, writing in an Instagram story: “I want to apologise for what happened outside the stadium after the game against Modena. We are professionals and, above all, we must be examples for youths and kids. Today I didn’t behave as such.
“That’s because the things that I love the most, such as my wife and my son, were deliberately involved off the pitch, hurting me deeply. I also renew my apologies to the opposing fans.”
The incident played out to the backdrop of Berardi’s uncertain future at Sassuolo, for whom he has starred across the past seven seasons. The 28-year-old has bagged 79 goals in 223 appearances for the club, who have established themselves as Serie A regulars.
Italian giants Milan, Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina are among the clubs who have been linked with a move for the 28-year-old, who is valued at €40million and last season contributed 15 goals and 17 assists in 33 Serie A appearances. Berardi changed squad number over the summer, but he has refused to suggest that means he'll stay: “I decided to change shirt, then there’s the transfer market, we’ll see…”
Sassuolo have already sold star striker Gianluca Scamacca to West Ham this summer while the future of another Italian international forward, Giacomo Raspadori, also remains in the balance.
