He had Buffon as a substitute, but lost to cocaine: “I suffered from depression”
Angelo Pagotto recalls that his drug addiction followed him for three years and that it had an impact: «I haven’t gotten off the couch for six months»
Angelo Pagotto, a former Italian goalkeeper now aged 51, could have written a different story in world football, but drug addiction diverted him from that path.
“I was stronger with Buffon, but then cocaine and depression… I’m still taking psychotropic drugs, I can’t stop,” said the former player, European Under-21 champion in 1996, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, a tournament in which he had a certain Buffon on the bench — the historic Italian goalkeeper was only 18 at the time, but not everyone can say that he was ever a substitute. Italy beat Spain on penalties, with Pagotto stopping Iván De la Peña and Raúl González.
“There was a time when he and I were the best goalkeepers in Italy. I spoke to him recently and congratulated him on his new role in the national team. ‘I have to thank you because you were the only one who made me win a European Championship,’ he said jokingly,” he said.
“The accusations of selling matches? All false. At Milan I earned 350 million lire, I spent it all. Today I live in the mountains with my third wife, I dream of coaching goalkeepers in Serie A and making peace with my mother,” said the former athlete, who in addition to the Milan team represented clubs such as Pistoiese, Sampdoria, Perugia, Empoli, Reggiana, Triestina, Arezzo, Torino, Grosseto and Crotone.
“For me, cocaine was an escape route, especially when I had no goals. At that time, I was at Crotone, I wasn’t playing much, my career was over. I met a lot of bad people who I couldn’t say no to. Drugs took me away from reality. I thought it would solve my problems, but it didn’t work out that way,” he said.
“I was addicted for three years and suffered from depression. I haven’t gotten off the couch for six months and I’m still taking psychotropic drugs. I tried to stop several times but I never managed. They did three tests on me in one day and only the second one came back positive. It was strange, it felt like everything was being manipulated,” he recalled.
Angelo Pagotto was also asked about the future: «I dream of returning to Serie A, but on the bench. I also want to open a football school where youngsters can develop based on merit and not just money. You can’t get anywhere without sacrifice.»
