Robertlandy Simon's pink beard is now history. In the photos from Milan's official presentation, published by the club on October 13, the Cuban giant has a shaved beard. The eccentric color is gone, but the story behind it is worth telling. Especially since the middle blocker is now ready to repeat the experiment – with a trophy with his new team.

In volleyball, there are victories that bring cups, and victories after which you have to dye your beard. Simon knows both. His pink transformation turned out to be the price of a bet lost in the most pleasant way possible – with Cuba qualifying for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
The plan was white, the result – pink
The curious story is told by the volleyball player himself in an interview with Rebecca Saibene from "Gazzetta dello Sport". One of the Cuban national team's conditioning coaches was convinced that the team would win an Olympic quota. Simon, however, had serious doubts.
"We had too many problems, the federation wasn't helping us, and it seemed impossible," admits the 39-year-old middle blocker.
The two decided to back their predictions with a bet. If they qualified, the coach had to dye his hair, and Simon – his beard white. Cuba fulfilled its part of the task, and it was time for the dye. Only it didn't obey the initial plan.
"I had to make it pink because white didn't take," explains the Cuban.
Thus, the long-awaited Olympic quota also received an unusual visual memory. For opponents, the 208-centimeter Simon remained a threat over the net, and for photographers, the pink beard was an additional reason to point the lens at him.
New team, new reason for dye
In the interview, the middle blocker states that he intends to part with the colored beard. Photos from Milan's presentation show that the change is already a fact. The Cuban has kept a short dark beard, and the pink remains in the shots from early autumn. In Milan, Simon will be a teammate with Bulgarian national Georgi Tatarov. The outside hitter is also among the team's new additions for the upcoming season.

However, this may turn out to be just a pause between two bets for the Cuban. When asked what color he would choose if he won an award with Milan, Simon does not hesitate:
"For a trophy with Milan, I would gladly dye it again. I would try white again. That way everyone will be happy."
Fans now have a promise they can remind him of at the next cup. And while the team works for it, there's time to find white dye that will work this time.
Behind the joke lies the dream of his life
The Olympic quota is much more than a reason for a change in appearance. Simon admits that after a series of disappointments, he had come to think that he would never play in an Olympics. Nevertheless, he continued to prepare for the next opportunity.
Now the goal is clear – to reach Los Angeles in the necessary form. At the 2028 Games, he will be 41, so he is already changing his training load and looking for the right balance between work and recovery.
And when the pain makes him think about quitting, the question that keeps him on the court for now comes: "But then I ask myself: 'What will I do if I stop?' I don't know, so I keep playing."
For now, Milan can count on Simon. And whether we will see him with a dyed beard again, this time will depend on the trophies.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov and powervolleymilano