WE KNEW IT!
When he announced in December 2018 that he has retired from the Italian national team, we were not convinced knowing that he is still one of the world’s best players at 33 years old. There was a part of us that knew he would rejoin the team.
We were absolutely right!
Days after winning the gold medal at the CEV Champions League and being awarded as the MVP for the 3rd time, Osmany Juantorena announced yesterday on social media that he will play for Italy again and help the team qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
Italia ci siamo !!💪🏻 I’m coming back🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/LEiy1YmaWj
— OsmanyJuantorena (@osmanijp5) May 22, 2019
Che bella sorpresa ho ricevuto oggi dopo cena 😘😘😘 pic.twitter.com/gciXu1zrLR
— OsmanyJuantorena (@osmanijp5) May 22, 2019
This is what Os posted on his private IG account:
Ciao a tutti! Dopo aver parlato con Chicco Blengini e il Presidente Bruno Cattaneo sono felice di comunicarvi che sarò al preolimpico a Bari!!! So di aver detto qualche mese fa che per me la nazionale era una storia già finita, però ripensandoci se il mio sogno era giocare un’Olimpiade… perché non due?!? Èla cosa più bella che c’è per uno sportivo e poi non è ancora detto che arriveremo a qualificarci! Però penso che la cosa più importante sia provarci e crederci fino in fondo, voglio molto bene questo gruppo !!! Quindi… Italia, ci sarò alle qualificazione e sono contento di tornare e vestire la maglia azzurra!!! A presto Osmany Juantorena.
He’s saying that he’s committed to be with the team qualify for the Olympics and he is very excited to be with his teammates again.
In case you didn’t know, the Olympic Qualification Tournament will be this coming August. Italy is in Pool C with European rivals Serbia, Australia and Cameroon. Italy will host the tournament from August 9th – 11th. The pool winner will win an Olympic ticket.
Pool A: Hosts are Bulgaria
Brazil, Egypt, Bulgaria, Puerto Rico
Pool B: Hosts are Netherlands
USA, Belgium, Netherlands, Korea
Pool C: Hosts are Italy
Italy, Serbia, Australia, Cameroon
Pool D: Hosts are Poland
Poland, France, Slovenia, Tunisia
Pool E: Hosts are Russia
Russia, Iran, Cuba, Mexico
Pool F: Hosts are China
Canada, Argentina, Finland, China
If Italy doesn’t make it then they have one more shot at the European Olympic qualification tournament sometime in January 2020.
We almost forgot to mention that we are going to see 3 former Cuban players on different national teams. Leon with Poland, Leal with Brazil and Os again with Italy. If these 3 teams all qualify for the Olympics, it will be a Cuban national team reunion!!!