When it comes to football, few stories are as inspiring as that of Antonio Di Natale. The Italian striker is a living legend in his homeland, having won the Serie A title with Inter Milan in 2010 and then going on to become the all-time top scorer in the Italian top flight.
However, despite his success with Inter, Di Natale was treated like a pariah when he moved to Udinese in 2011. The club’s fans were not happy with the signing of a player who had just won the league with their rivals, and Di Natale was subjected to a torrent of abuse from the stands.
Despite this, Di Natale went on to become a hero at Udinese, scoring an incredible 97 goals in five seasons with the club. He was also instrumental in helping the club qualify for the Champions League in 2012 and 2013.
However, despite his success at Udinese, Di Natale was not offered a new contract when his deal expired in 2016. He was left without a club and, at the age of 37, it seemed his career was over.
But Di Natale refused to give up and, after a brief spell in the lower leagues of Italian football, he signed for English side Bury in 2017. It was a far cry from the glamour of the Champions League, but Di Natale was determined to make the most of his opportunity.
And he did just that, scoring an impressive 15 goals in his first season with the club. He was also a key figure in helping Bury to promotion to League One in 2018.
Di Natale is now 38 and his career is winding down, but he is still playing with the same enthusiasm and passion that made him a star at Inter and Udinese. He may not be playing for the biggest clubs anymore, but he is still happy to be playing in England and is grateful for the opportunity.
Di Natale’s story is a reminder that, no matter how difficult things may seem, it is always possible to make a comeback. He may not be playing for the biggest clubs anymore, but he is still happy to be playing in England and is grateful for the opportunity. He is a true inspiration to all football fans.
