Padova, Papu Gomez: "After my ban, many vanished, I sought help" | OneFootball

Alejandro “Papu” Gomez returned to the starting lineup after 923 days. A number that carries weight, marking a clear divide between a before and an after. Today, the Padova midfielder speaks with clarity, serenity, and a different kind of maturity—the kind that comes from having gone through the most difficult moment of his career and managing to get back on his feet.

Padova, Papu Gomez: “After the suspension, many disappeared. I asked for help to get back up”

After two years of suspension for doping, Papu is back on the field, but above all, he has found himself again.

“It’s a number I still have trouble believing. I’m happy, physically I felt good. Now I can say that my journey has truly begun,” he says, with the awareness of someone who no longer wants to take anything for granted.

The return to the field and a new mentality

Starting from the first minute means much more than just being present: it’s the end of a long wait and the beginning of a new phase. “On my debut against Venezia, I didn’t enjoy the match. I was coming back from an injury and was afraid of getting hurt again. I was worried that people would think I was no longer able to play.”

Today, that anxiety is behind him. Gomez feels good and looks ahead, with a clear goal: consistency. “The numbers don’t matter to me. I want to play every match, because that means I’m physically well. That’s what really counts for me now.”

Padova, not just survival: “We can aim higher”

The Padova project convinced him from day one. The stated goal is to stay in Serie B, but Papu doesn’t hide: “I’m not satisfied with just survival. I want to help this team grow and take it as high as possible.”

An ambition born from trust in the group: “Serie B is a balanced, unpredictable league. Everyone told me it’s the tournament of ‘you never know’. We have what it takes to have a calm season, but if we can dream of something more, even better.”

Andreoletti and the mix of experience and youth

In today’s Padova, experience and freshness coexist, even on the bench. “It’s a great mix. The club has brought in experienced players and has a young but very well-prepared coach. Andreoletti is smart, works well, and prepares matches with great attention. We’re growing together.”

The past in Bergamo inevitably resurfaces: “With him, we often talk about Gasperini and Atalanta. In ten years, he set the standard. Today, many teams play that way. It’s become a trend.”

The city and the welcome: “Padova surprised me”

Even off the field, Gomez has found an ideal environment. “People welcomed me very well, I feel the enthusiasm. Padova surprised me: it’s lively, open, a good place to live. Coming from Bergamo, I was able to organize everything calmly. It was easier compared to other career changes.”

From social media to silence: “I was viral, then the phone stopped ringing”

The most delicate part concerns the period after the suspension. Gomez doesn’t beat around the bush: “Some people disappeared. Others, whom I didn’t expect, were very close to me. Difficulties also help you understand who truly cares about you.”

The contrast with the past is stark: “For a video I went viral, with dances and songs. Then the phone stopped ringing. The fans, however, showed me incredible affection, both on social media and in the street. But today I’m less present online: this somewhat fake world has tired me out.”

Turning down the Kings League and choosing sacrifice

In an era where football is increasingly tied to social media, Papu made a counter-current choice. “The Kings League called me, they would have paid me very well. But it wasn’t for me. I was making huge sacrifices to return to real football. I couldn’t afford shortcuts.”

A decision made out of respect for himself and his career: “I couldn’t go there and then hope for a call from Serie A or B.”

“I asked for help”: the mental turning point

The most intimate moment comes when he talks about the psychological side. “After the suspension, I asked for help. I had entered a loop I couldn’t get out of.”

The support of his family was fundamental: “My wife helped me a lot, especially in understanding the path I had to take. I couldn’t train with the team, I couldn’t enter a sports center, I couldn’t study to become a coach or manager.”

During that period, Gomez had to reinvent himself: “I was everything for myself: fitness coach, coach, mental coach. I had to find the strength within myself to move forward.”

The future? “Now I want to take back the time I lost”

Thinking about life after football, for now, isn’t a priority. “I’m a free spirit, I struggle with routine. Now I just want to enjoy football again and make up for the time I lost.”

His gaze is still forward: “If all goes well, I’d like to play another three or four years.” Not out of nostalgia, but out of hunger. The same hunger as someone who has fallen, asked for help, and chosen to truly come back.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.