Yerry Mina is at the center of a controversy that has shaken Serie A: some fans and journalists accuse him of being a "provocateur" on the pitch, while others defend him as the last true defender of modern football. The controversy erupted after the Cagliari-Juventus 1-1 match, in which Mina showed aggressive marking which attracted the attention of Spalletti and his colleagues. To clarify the issue, former Cagliari goalkeeper Simone Aresti interviewed TuttoMercatoWeb, defending the Colombian and explaining his role within the rossoblù team.
Aresti, who shared a dressing room with Mina in the 2023-24 season, describes Yerry Mina as “the last survivor of the true defenders”. According to him, the great Italian defenders have never played with "foil" and aggressive marking, now considered a scandal, was the norm in the past. “His behavior doesn't cross the line,” says Aresti, citing the fact that Mina has never been sent off and knows when it's time to step up the pressure on his opponents. The former goalkeeper also claims that those who criticize Mina "suffer" because they don't have a defender in the team with the same personality capable of "terrorizing and nullifying" the attackers.
As for personality off the pitch, Aresti believes Mina is a positive person and a true leader. “Off the pitch he is always a positive person with a unique goodness,” he adds, highlighting the difference between the image you see on the pitch and the real one of the player. On teamwork, the former goalkeeper underlines that Juventus has a "precise identity", capable of moving from a finishing game to "blank-draw" marking when necessary. “For me it's not a flash in the pan, but it's already a mature team that can make an important championship,” he concludes, pointing to Mina's role in Pisacane's formation.
Finally, Aresti spoke about his future after retirement. In 2024, after ending his professional career, he decided to dedicate himself to training young goalkeepers in Sardinia. He founded the "Aresti GK Academy", a school that operates in Selargius, Quartu Sant'Elena and Assemini, offering individual and group courses that combine technique, reading of the game and mental preparation. With this initiative, the former goalkeeper intends to pass on his experience to the new generations, contributing to the development of local football.