It was a cheeky move from a man accused of paying attention to Serie A side Lazio's eagle mascot.
Club falconer Juan Bernabe posted post-op photos and a video of his genitals after penis enlargement surgery on his personal Instagram account, and a Lazio supporter who followed him took a screenshot of the post and shared it publicly. I decided to do it.
Bernabe, 56, has been Lazio's falconer for the past 15 years and looks after the eagle Olimpia, which flies over the Stadio Olimpico before every home match.
Following the controversy, the club parted ways with the flamboyant Bernabé, who in an interview with Italian Radio 24's La Zanzara insisted that “nudity is normal'' but also criticized his actions. He didn't seem to regret it.
“We and our historical symbol, the eagle, can no longer be associated with a person whose actions have made any continuation of our relationship impossible,” Lazio said in a statement.
Bernabe hasn't been shy about the procedure, why he did it, or the fact that he doesn't regret posting the photo on social media.
“Of course I did something for medical purposes, and I don't regret anything,'' Bernabé said, emphasizing “La Zanzara.'' According to The Athletic. “For me, nudity is normal. I grew up in an open-minded family of naturists. I don't understand what is pornographic about this photo.”
As for the procedure itself, Bernabe claimed that he was undergoing it “to improve sexual performance” and that he was “very active.”
Bernabe's social media posts weren't the first to come under the microscope.
He was suspended by Lazio in 2021 after he was filmed giving a fascist salute and chanting the phrase “Duce, Duce” used by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini after a match against Inter Milan.
Speaking about Mussolini, the now former falconer said he had “a lot of respect for him” and said working for Lazio was an “honor” and “makes me feel more of a man”.
