“We didn’t fight, but when there are Yugoslavs, Croats, Spaniards, Brazilians…” | Relief

Christian Panucci’s (Savona, Italy, 04/12/1973) eyes sparkle and he never stops smiling when you ask him about his years at Real Madrid. The best time of his life, where he became forever friends with Roberto Carlos, Seedorf, Raúl, Mijatović, Šuker… They were united by the desire to change history, to win Septima after 32 years,” and the Thista ham,” where they went every day to talk openly. Today he continues to do this in RELAY, also with spikes stuck in it, on the eve of Spain-Italy, his first and second home.

If I ask you about your first memories in Madrid…

To Thistu. I arrived in the afternoon, it was Thursday, and I went to dinner with Fabio, he told me: “Listen, Atlético and Madrid will be there on Saturday and you will play.” Okay, I’m ready, I told him. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Who have you always had the best feelings with?

Seedorf and Roberto Carlos played in Italy, but despite all that dressing room, we all had a connection from the start. I knew Capello as if he were my father and it was easy. Just like it wasn’t for him to train me. He took me to all the teams and knew exactly what he wanted from the players. It may have been more difficult for Spaniards or newcomers, but this was due to the fact that he spent several years with him in Madrid.

You’ve finally won the Seventh. Do you feel like you’ve been a part of all the Champions Leagues won since then?

Responsibly, on the one hand, yes, we paved the way after 32 years. I also feel a little old because we are already in 16th place and won the seventh place, which I think was one of the most important.

Despite winning so many times, do you think the players give it the same importance?

Yes, because the Champions League is a special sensation, and in Madrid every year you have to forget and win, forget and win. In Madrid the hunger to win the Champions League never goes away.

What topic comes up most often when you meet former Madrid teammates?

Seedorf and I always talk about how the Spaniards helped foreigners and how foreigners helped the Spaniards. We formed a very strong team, there were great Spanish players in Madrid, but they didn’t win anything in Europe, and we also have a thirst for victories in Europe. The dressing room was amazing, when I see Raul like this today it brings back the best memories. I was the only Italian to play for Madrid and the only one to win the Champions League, which I am very proud of. There isn’t a day when I don’t think about the Madrid shirt and the day I moved to Inter.

Do you regret it?

I was not mistaken, Moratti at that time wanted to create a team that would win everything. Perhaps I was wrong to leave Madrid. At that moment I was very convinced, now at 50 years old I tell myself that if I could go back… Many people told me that I was in Madrid for only a short time, the team asked me to stay, Toshack too…

Maybe you were very impulsive?

It seemed so, but if you look at reality, out of 750 games I was excluded only once. We had the character to win, my teammates were my brothers, when I was 25 I counted to two and now I count to ten. I don’t like to lose.

Who lifted the mood in that locker room?

There were many of them, it was a team of many leaders in the service of the team, and this is not easy: Iron, Sanchis, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Redondo and Seedorf were very strong personalities, Mijatovic, Suker, Morientes… They themselves serve the team, run, and everyone does their own thing: me on the right flank, Roberto on the left, we fought a lot on the field, like any family, but then we were very friends. We never came to blows, but when there are Yugoslavs, Croats, Spaniards, Brazilians, etc., each with their own mentality… Discussions also mean the good of the team, not that you don’t tell each other afterwards.

We were united by ham, Spain is my second home, and Spanish food is incredible. After training we ate Thistu ham. We trained at 12, and then went to drink beer together. In the evening we got together, I always had dinner with Pedja (Mijatović), Davor (Šuker), Karembe. Spending so much time together off the field, friendship was the key to success, although there were many differences between them.

What do you think Mbappe’s arrival will be like in the white dressing room?

Very easy, he will need everyone’s help because they know they need Mbappe. A dressing room that has won five Champions Leagues means it has values. Some will say it’s expensive, but that’s okay, it’s free. They will be waiting for you, hugging you.

You were arguing with Sakki and Luppi, right?

Never with Sacchi, in fact, my first game was with him, we didn’t really argue, he was just very attached to his four defenses, and he didn’t take me to the World Cup. Then he was the first one to send me a message when I came to work for the Albanian team.

Yes, Lippi and I argue a lot at Inter. I told him I didn’t want to play with him anymore. It was normal that I was not called up to the national team, although perhaps I deserved it, but when you argue with a person, you hope that you will not be selected. I have no complaints, he did something that I didn’t like, that’s all.

Was missing out on the World Cup the worst part of your career?

Yes, because I think at the 2006 World Cup I scored 10-12 goals and at the end I felt bad because I think I deserved it, although I wasn’t going to leave because Lippi didn’t call me for two years. , so it wasn’t a surprise. I also didn’t think that because I played well that I would win. I’ve never been a guy who thinks that because he didn’t call me, I want them to lose. It would be too selfish. I watched all the games and, as an Italian, I was very happy.

How do you see Italy? Do you think they can make a difference to the non-athletic problems they had?

No, I’m sure this has no place in the locker room. Italy does not have a specific star, only Chiesa, but there are mid-high level players who, with the help of Spalletti, can make a good run, Italy is difficult to send home. Spain may be superior, but in 90 minutes Italy can beat anyone. We are a team with quality in midfield and a little less in defense where we can do damage. Chiesa and Scamacca are playing well and Chiesa can change the game in a one-on-one situation, he will be responsible for the attack.

When you played against Spain, did you play with the fear we had that we wouldn’t make it to the quarter-finals? How do you see this match?

Well, there are times when things don’t go well, but Spain winning Euro 2008 and the World Cup came from beating us. Anything can happen because there are a lot of young people in Spain. Spain will have control of the ball, they say about Italian football that they have poor ball control, these were difficult games with a lot of running.

Which Spaniard was more difficult to defend?

Raul, Morientes… The Spanish midfield was incredible. When we lost on penalties, it was against a very strong Spain, but our defense was very good and we took them to penalties.

Is Italy not defending so well anymore?

This is not the same Italy, there are many foreigners here, a lot has been done. businessIt can be seen that Italian teams are in the Conference and Europa League, not in the Champions League. Inter is the only one who can do something in the Champions League.

You were the coach of the Albanian national team, our opponent in the next match. Will they be able to surprise us?

Albania has a good, high-quality team, there are experienced players in defense, I joined them after the Eurocup and I had to change everything. It’s not at the level of Croatia, Spain or Italy, but you have to work hard to beat them. They have good one-on-one play up front, they have Broya who belongs to Chelsea, behind them Djimsiti who plays for Atalanta and others who play in Italy like Ramdani. He’s not going to give it to you.

What are your favorites?

France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and England. I see a Germany-England final, but I’m hoping for a Spain-Italy final.

I’m going to ask you something that has nothing to do with this… If you had to go to a desert island to survive, which ex-partner would you take?

I would choose Pedja Mijatovic because we have a lot to tell about our time in Madrid.

Before reaching the island, who would you throw into the water?

Player or coach? Ha ha ha. I don’t know, none of them, in the end I can tolerate everyone, everyone has their own shortcomings and advantages.

Who would you go with on a trip around the world?

With Roberto Carlos I would laugh a lot, the problem is that I go to bed early and he wants to go out. But I don’t think we made it to the airport.

Finally…Who would you entrust your children to?

From Costacurta. He is a very responsible boy, we are very similar in thinking, we have children of the same age, and he is a good father.