Fabio Quagliarella’s stalker hell which led to ‘traitorous’ departure from Napoli to Juventus — he was falsely accused of paedophilia and links to Mafia
Italian striker was heartbroken after being forced to leave boyhood club following shocking ordeal which ruined his life
PLAYERS kissing the badge of their supposed "boyhood team" and then leaving as soon as a better offer comes is nothing new.
Excuses follow about broken promises behind the scenes or how it was out of the players' hands.
But the case surrounding Fabio Quagliarella is in face quite unique in that his dream of becoming Napoli's hometown hero was broken when an horrific stalker ordeal forced him to move on.
The Italy striker had to bide his time to make it in the game.
Despite being a proud "Napoletano", he moved north where he started his career with Torino.
After loan spells at Fiorentina and Chieti, he moved to Sampdoria where he began making a name for himself and earned his first international call-up.
And, following two impressive seasons with Udinese, he got the dream call to join boyhood club Napoli in 2009.
He soon became fan-favourite with declarations about his love for them and how he wants to finish his career at the San Paolo.
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However, just 12 months into a five-year contract, Quagliarella left — like all the others.
And joined none other than arch-rivals Juventus.
He was immediately labelled a money-grabbing traitor and, given his Neapolitan roots, fans were especially unforgiving of his decision to go.
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But, unlike most transfers from smaller to bigger clubs, this really does have a dark under layer, with Quagliarella facing hell behind the scenes.
He was forced to endure the terrifying ordeal of being stalked by policeman Raffaele Piccolo, who appeared determined to ruin the striker's life.
The Italian striker was unable to explain himself due to laws about ongoing court hearings in Italy, so he had to receive the abuse from the fans he wanted to make proud in silence.
Speaking to Mediaset he explained how, in a way, that aim was achieved: "I had always imagined myself as captain of Napoli, of winning something with them because they were becoming as good a team as they are now — a great team.
"If none of this had happened. I am certain I would still be playing there now."
Quagliarella's lifelong ambition of becoming a hometown hero was over — and, given his standing among Neapolitans, it even became dangerous for him to return to see his family and friends.
Yet, given the delicate nature of the situation, he was unable to explain himself and had to stand there and take the insults.
He said: “Sometimes those close to me reacted, but I always tried to avoid arguing with these people —my own people.
"I was waiting for the day when I could finally tell them everything."
The time eventually arrived — but only after Piccolo was locked up for four years and eight months.
Quagliarella revealed: “A stalker tormented me for over five years.
"I don’t know what was going through his mind, as he was a police officer and because of that I at first considered him someone to be trusted.
“It started with a password problem I had and he resolved it."
That was just the beginning — after their acquaintance, the striker was threatened and began receiving death threats.
Quagliarella explained just how tormenting the situation then became: "Then I started getting anonymous letters with pictures of naked girls, accusing me of paedophilia, of working with the Camorra [local mafia], of dealing drugs, of fixing games.
“My father received threatening messages.
"They told him that someone would shoot me in the head or that they’d blow up my home with a bomb."
He also had a coffin delivered to his house with a picture of his face on it.
Quagliarella and his family turned to Piccolo for help — not knowing he was, in fact, behind the entire affair.
He added: “Any tiny scare suddenly became a huge danger, once you knew about these threats.
"You felt constantly like you were being watched, under threat, always looking to see who was eyeing you sideways.
"You cannot imagine the tension just being at home.
“The stalker, being a police officer, was regularly in my home and he was running the whole thing.
"He asked us to take some people’s fingerprints, kept saying: ‘We’re nearly there, just a little longer’.
“He even named some names, but when you’re inside all of this, it’s impossible to understand what’s going on.
"I couldn’t tell anyone, not even my brothers.
"My best friend Giulio was then called in by the authorities for invented links to the Camorra."
However, it was at this point that things started to become a little clearer.
Quagliarella explained: “In the end, my father figured it out.
"He realised the authorities never got my formal complaints because the stalker was keeping them all to himself.”
The situation in his personal life overflowed into his professional affairs — and forced him to leave his beloved Napoli.
And heartbroken Quagliarella showed just how deeply saddened he was: “The letters I received at home he also sent to my club.
"Before the away trip to Sweden, they called me and said I would not play because I was sold to Juventus. It was the first I’d heard of it.
“People accused me of leaving Napoli for money, but that was not true and really annoyed my family.
"The fans cared for me and felt betrayed, but they couldn’t know the real reason I left.
"They saw me becoming their captain, of winning something with the team.
"If it was up to me, I’d still be there at the San Paolo, as scoring those 11 goals were worth 100 to me.
“I tried to let them know how much I loved Napoli with little gestures, like refusing to celebrate after the goal for Torino.
"Would I go back to Napoli? It’d be wonderful even to just know those fans had thought of me. I left unfinished business there.”
Thankfully for Quagliarella, the fans empathised with him after hearing his explanation and unfurled a banner in support ahead of last season's clash with Crotone.
It read: "You've lived through hell with enormous dignity. We will embrace you again, Fabio, son of this city."
Now 34, and still scoring the goals for Sampdoria, Quagliarella still holds on to that dream of once again wearing the light blue shirt of Napoli.