Gianfranco Zola: «My dream? An assist to Gigi Riva»
In a long interview, the special thought for Rombo di Tuono, and the memory of Oliena's childhood, with that gift for his third birthday that changed his lifePer restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
His dream? Assist Gigi Riva. « I would have liked to play with him. I think we would have had a lot of fun ." Gianfranco Zola mentions Rombo di Tuono in a long interview with Corriere. Where he starts right from his past in Sardinia , in Oliena, the son of shepherd parents who then changed their business by opening a bar.
His first love with football was right on the island, thanks also to that ball that was given to him on his third birthday. «My father had become friends with some players of the local team who were called "foreigners" - explains Zola - because they came from neighboring villages. They gave me that plastic ball, a Super Tele, and my mum says I never let it go. I even went there to sleep."
Then the youth teams, Torres in Serie C, Napoli, Parma, the national team, Chelsea and Cagliari, a story full of successes. With a common thread, imagination and freedom . “I used to go crazy when they tried to harness me. Some coaches tried, but it wasn't for me. I only knew how to play football that way." «To my friend Luca Vialli , I said: "Tell me how you want the ball, then I'll take care of how to get it to you, don't worry". I valued my independence, the way I looked for position, the timing of my plays. It gave me certainty, security. Because that's what I knew how to do."
A world, even that of football, where everything has changed, where many move to Arabia, where he too had experience in the Al-Arabi team, attracted by millionaire salaries. «In any job, if the offer is five times higher than what you usually take, it is natural that one thinks about it or accepts it - continues Zola -. I realize that money is very important, however, I don't know, I come from an era in which, of course, we looked at salaries, but we were also very keen on playing in the most important championships, in the most important cups». «I don't want to make comparisons, I don't like hypocrisy. Everything has changed and the context must be evaluated. But it remains that for me the competitiveness of the tournament in which we play is important, no less than the bank account».
As for Mancini « I was surprised . To be honest, I didn't expect it." «After his elimination in the World Cup, I am among those who argued that he should continue – he continues -. I thought he wanted to get to the World Cup." So the thought of Maradona, «unimaginable», and Baggio, «extraordinary talent, I am grateful to him. If a national team with two playmakers had been planned in those years, we would have done great things».
(Unioneonline)