The interweaving between Rome and Turin tells the career of Ciccio Graziani well. Goals, regrets, joys, trophies pass on that axis, but also a small place in the historical ranking of grenade scorers. The new Giallorossi Andrea Belotti - after having surpassed him by goal in Serie A with Toro - will in fact not be able to affect the absolute primacy of grenade goals in UEFA competitions of the Subiaco striker. Graziani of European goals with the Turin shirt has scored 8, more than anyone, even Pulici and precisely Belotti, stopped at 6 in the preliminaries. The most memorable one remains the seal of the 2-1 at the end against Malmoe, before the confrontation with Moenchengladbach in the Dusseldorf bedlam which even sees him close the game in the role of goalkeeper complete with a clean sheet. Mythical stories of a champion of Italy in grenade who turns 70 on Friday but who had to wait 37 before giving up the scepter of the last top scorer in Serie A del Toro. Ciro Immobile succeeded in 2013-14 and before them, only Paolo Pulici (three times), Valentino Mazzola, Eusebio Castigliano, Gino Rossetti, Julio Libonatti, Heinrich Schonfeld did the same. Twin of Puliciclone's goal, overall, with the Piedmontese, he recorded 289 appearances and 122 total goals, winning the Scudetto in the 1975-1976 season.
When he signed for Roma, after coming close to the title with De Sisti's Fiorentina, Graziani had already entered the top 10 of the best Azzurri goalscorers of all time. A goal that further enhances the pride of being among the 1982 world champions with seven appearances, one goal and an injury in the final. His 23 goals in the national team still allow him to keep the ninth place in the standings ahead of names like Sandro Mazzola, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Bettega and Gianluca Vialli. The move to yellow and red looks like revenge for those who grew up in Bettini Quadraro. «Too thin», the Magician Herrera ruled after an audition and the roads between Roma and Graziani separated even before they had crossed. So that penalty against Liverpool in the European Cup final seemed like a perfect redemption with fate. «I still dream of the mistake at night», he said some time ago, however, strengthened by the pride of having presented himself on the spot unlike his friend Falcao. He won the Italian Cup twice with Roma, but they were the bitterest successes, those of consolation after having missed the most coveted title in 1984 and the encore as champion of Italy in 1986.
