Orsonaldo, a night like in fairy tales: “Proud of the victory, with us we have fun”

There are brush strokes that rightfully enter the art gallery of time, as well as the gallery of the most indelible memories. When in a thousand years Riccardo Orsolini hangs up his boots, the overhead kick goal against Inter in the 94th minute that keeps Bologna's Champions League dream alive and sensationally reopens the race for the Scudetto will be one of the most unforgettable 'pictures' of his career.

"After I saw the ball go in I didn't understand anything anymore", Orso said on Sunday evening, commenting on his and the entire Dall'Ara's crazy celebration, which left him with a wound to his hand as well as a warning (for taking off his shirt) which he accepted with a smile on his lips, including a handshake with Colombo.

But in the chaotic euphoria of the moment, Orsonaldo understood one thing: "This goal adds bricks to a dream that I won't say what it is and that this year is an even more difficult goal to achieve (qualifying for the Champions League, ed.). I'm proud of this victory, of my teammates and of the path we're taking: no matter what happens, we're having a lot of fun".

There is joy and there are numbers. Twelfth goal in the championship: it is a personal record, which places him on the trail of Alberto Gilardino, the last rossoblù to score more goals than him in the championship (13 goals in the 2012-13 season). And fourteenth goal of the season, adding to the count the 2 scored in the Coppa Italia. The total is 70 in 251 games with the rossoblù jersey.

Stuff for a true "son of Bologna", as he recently defined himself. After that, this Orsolini Man of Destiny, despite the initial bench decided by Italiano ("the coach cooks something every now and then, today he cooked well" joked the boy from Ascoli at the end), since Sunday night, many have loved him. And at all latitudes.

If Luciano Spalletti were to inexplicably continue to turn his back on him, Orso can console himself by adding, to the boundless affection of the people of Bologna, the wave of gratitude of Antonio Conte and all the Napoli fans who in these hours are inundating him with compliments on the web.

Since Sunday evening in Fuorigrotta the labels have been wasted: Orsolini like Maradona, the new hero of Naples, "we are waiting for you under Vesuvius", wrote the blue fans on social media, promising to send him casatiello and pastiera at home. More soberly, but not too much, on Sunday evening the president of Napoli De Laurentiis celebrated the feat of the number 7 rossoblù in a restaurant in Capri.

To the delight of the person directly concerned, a 28-year-old boy who has chosen Bologna as his second home and who feeds, in his daily work, on the attention that the fans give him.

Moreover, Inter had already punished Orso at the Dall'Ara two years ago, in the 1-0 on 26 February 2023, when he signed a pearl that in terms of beauty of execution is not so far from the masterpiece of Pasqua's overhead kick.

"I always try those shots, but nine times out of ten I don't succeed," joked Orso on Sunday night. Laughing and joking, in Casteldebole dreams come true.