Leonardo Pavoletti has announced his retirement from playing football, opening a new chapter in his career which will lead him to become sporting director. In the long letter published on the website of journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Cagliari striker, after a career that spanned Naples, Sassuolo, Genoa and the national team, declared that he had decided to "say goodbye to football" but to leave open the possibility of a possible return in the future, should he change his mind. "I have decided to say goodbye to football. Even if I leave a small door open. Who knows, you never know. But at the moment, I'm fine like this. A new page in my life has begun," he wrote.
Pavoletti recalled the first years of difficulty, when at sixteen he found himself on the bench in a Serie D club, Armando Picchi, without yet a professional contract. "I was in juniors. It's hard to think I could become a footballer," he reflected. His career then took off in Sassuolo and especially in Genoa, where he fought for Serie A and experienced Gasperini's leadership. “I had just arrived, it was impossible that I could have already learned them,” he recalled, also recalling the moments of tactical difficulty that pushed him to improve. The following two years, however, were decisive: he became the owner of a team that conquered Europe and won thanks to his presence on the pitch. “I had become Pavoloso,” he said proudly, citing the magic of the Marassi and the enthusiasm of the fans.
In 2023, Pavoletti returned to Cagliari, where he scored the decisive goal in the play-off final against Bari, guaranteeing promotion to Serie A. “If we win, we return to Serie A. I wasn't expecting anything else, but Ranieri keeps me on the bench,” he said, recalling the moment in which, in the 89th minute, he created a cross from the right that gave the team the lead. "The clock is ticking, 0-0. I only entered in the 89th minute. But life has taught me, every minute can be important. I trained for this," he added, underlining his determination.
The main reason for his retirement is a knee problem which limited his chances of continuing to play at a competitive level. For this reason, Pavoletti decided to enroll in a course for sports directors, thus opening up a new professional perspective. “A few days ago I was admitted to the course for sports directors to start a new career behind the desk or on the road looking for new talent,” he wrote, indicating his interest in contributing to sport from a different point of view.
With his experience in Serie A, Europe and the national team, Pavoletti is ready to bring his knowledge of the game and his passion for football in a new guise. The future sees him engaged in the search for young talents and in managing teams, with the aim of building successes similar to those he experienced on the field. His decision marks the end of an era as a player and the beginning of a new path that promises to continue to give value to Italian football.