Monza captain Matteo Pessina has posted a public tribute to teammate Papu Gomez.
Gomez is serving a two-year doping ban.
Pessina posted to social media: “Serie A will return in a few days but I would like to draw attention to what happened to one of our teammates a few weeks ago.
“Papu is a person with whom I have shared a lot on and off the pitch, who has not only been my captain in the past, but is above all a World Champion with his national team. It goes without saying that he has a special place in my heart: he is a golden man, a player that I can define without hesitation among the strongest I have ever played with.
“A month ago he received notification of a two-year suspension from football fields, for having tested positive for Terbutaline, a substance involuntarily taken through his son’s cough syrup. I would like to start by saying that I firmly believe in Sports Justice and I am sure that this case can be resolved in the fairest way possible. I hope that Ale will soon return to doing what he loves, alongside us, and that an involuntary mistake will not take away from him what he has always loved to do: playing football.
“Our only belief, the one that spurs us on every day, that makes us grit our teeth when we are at the limit, to improve as a team, is solely the love for work. Our doping is the tenacity with which we all train together, every day, listening to the words of the coach and trainers. We definitely won’t leave you alone Papu and we will fight this battle together with you, like on the pitch. From the Team. We look forward to seeing you soon @papugomez_official.
“Matteo.”
