COMMENT By Solace Chukwu
Follow on TwitterThe two strongest stereotypes about Italian football: its emphasis on tactics, and the fearsomeness of its defenders, really should not allow for a player like Gervinho to flourish. Yet, in his second spell in Serie A, he is threatening to rip it up in much the same way as he did first time around.
The Ivory Coast international, whose previous spell in Italy saw him terrorize defences while with Roma, is now the wrong side of 30, and is in rather more modest company with Parma. It would appear, however, that neither age nor a forgettable spell in China have robbed him of his jinking elusiveness.
However, he is as difficult for opponents to grasp as he is for the fans, and with time, it quickly becomes clear that his flair can be a double-edged sword.
No one knows what Gervinho will do with the ball...least of Gervinho himself.
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In spite of this infuriating quality, he was actually a moderate success in his three-year stint at Roma. His debut season, in particular, was quite spectacular.
He contributed directly to 24 goals for the Giallorossi (12 goals and 12 assists) in a season that saw them finish second: well behind Juventus, but a whopping seven points ahead of third-placed Napoli.
If anything, he may have hit stride too quickly.
The link-up with Rudi Garcia, under whom he first caught the eye at Lille, was electric until it ceased to be. Things quickly unraveled for the French manager in Rome: whether as a cause or as an effect (or both) of Gervinho's drop-off.
Unable to push on, or even hit the same heights subsequently, he was surprisingly sold to Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune at age 28.
His second coming mirrors his first rather keenly, as he has once again caught fire instantly. His influence on returning Parma has been tremendous; even at 31, there are few who can carry the ball quite like Gervinho in full flow.
The upshot of this is that the Ivorian is the ultimate confidence player, and so requires as much a whisperer as he does a coach. Is it any surprise then that he is thriving at Parma, a team for whom he can be the star, the centre-piece? Probably not.
In fact, playing for an underdog arguably suits him better. Whereas his eclectic decision-making and mercurial application would quickly frustrate at a bigger club, it is the spark needed to transform a more modest one.
His coast to coast run at the weekend against Cagliari, a spin on the classic George Weah goal for AC Milan in 1996, was certainly jaw-dropping.
It was even, whisper it quietly, better - what goal, after all, isn't improved by the aid of the woodwork? - but it is tempting to wonder if he might have felt under pressure to be more selfless had he been playing at a more illustrious club.
Getty/GoalHe certainly could have passed the ball at multiple points during that run. He probably should have, logically. Yet, to do so would have betrayed the very essence of Gervinho, the free spirit.
Parma under Roberto D'Aversa are solid enough, and have a frontman with tremendous movement and intelligence in Roberto Inglese. However, all the movement in the world would be useless if not exploited: with Gervinho given the freedom to come in off the flank and drift into the space as it opens up, the Gialloblu are a dangerous prospect, as Inter can attest.
There simply is no telling what Parma can or will do.
Just right now, they are inside the top half, have won as many as they have lost, and have conceded almost as many as they have scored. It has been a tortuous route back to the top table of Italian football for one of the country's historic sides, after a sojourn in the wilderness.
In more ways than one, they have the perfect mascot in Gervinho, a man who seems keen to prove that this is the level at which he belongs. For better or worse.
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