Bastoni case, Pierre Kalulu gets straight to the point

At the conclusion of an evening to forget in the Champions League, with Juventus’ 5-2 defeat on the field of Galatasaray, Pierre Kalulu wanted to close once and for all the case related to Alessandro Bastoni’s simulation, which had caused the Frenchman’s expulsion on Saturday night during Inter-Juve’s league match. The former Milan defender, in particular, made it clear that he wanted to put an end to an affair that continues to make noise even three days later.

“I still haven’t heard what he said – began Kalulu, responding to a specific question that came from the Sky Sport studio -. Did he apologize? The game is gone, I thought about it the same night and the next day, then I told myself that it is better to look forward and not think about it anymore. However, it is a shame what happened”. Bastoni had spoken at a press conference in the afternoon, apologizing for the simulation on the field but at the same time going on the counterattack against the haters on social media.

Francesco Lucivero

“I waited a few days to review what happened, to reflect in the heat of the moment. I felt a contact in my arm, which reviewing I absolutely accentuated – Bastoni admitted in front of reporters, speaking for the first time after the incriminating episode -. I am here to take responsibility and also for the attitude afterwards. I will always be the same Bastoni, in more than three hundred games I was involved in a similar episode only on Saturday. I have learned how to handle everything, I will be the same Bastoni in the next matches too”.

The expulsion of Pierre Kalulu, decreed by referee La Penna at 42′ of the first half, on the score of 1-1, inevitably affected the resumption of Inter-Juventus last Saturday: the Bianconeri had managed, despite being outnumbered, to equalize at’83’ with Locatelli Esposito′’s goal at 76′ but Zielinski at 90′ had then signed the winning goal.

Kalulu, as a result of the disputed red card, will be forced to miss Juventus-Como, a match scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Stadium, at 3 p.m. Bastoni, who instead had ended his match with a warning prior to the incriminating episode, instead entered a caution, that yellow being his fourth sanction.