Are you happy again at Sampdoria?
There are three clubs in my heart. First there's Sampdoria, then Inter Milan, because I've been a fan of them since I was little, and Parma, all the more so after the situation they went through. I've forgotten about the rest [laughs]. At Real Madrid I only played like three or four times! It was my own fault, of course, and also because some of the best players in the world and in history were there: Ronaldo, [Zinedine] Zidane, Raúl...
How did you find out that Madrid wanted to sign you?
I was out in the cold at Roma under [Luciano] Spalletti... And [agent Ernesto] Bronzetti called me and said: 'Antonio, do you want to go to the biggest club in history?' I said: 'Who do you mean?' He replied 'Real', and I said: 'F**k off, Ernesto...'. He came to my house and handed me Florentino [Pérez, the Madrid president] on the other end of the phone.
And...?
I couldn't say no to Madrid. A lot of people would pay to play there. It was the Madrid of the 'Galácticos'! Zidane, Figo, Raúl, Beckham, Guti, Roberto Carlos, Casillas…
Why weren't you a success there?
It was either Robinho or me on the pitch. I started well and got myself on the scoresheet, but when you go to Madrid you can do one of two things: be with your family and focus on your football, or go there and carry on like an idiot.
And what did you do?
The latter; but I still had a great time.
Do you reget not making the most of such an opportunity?
Yes, I do; it's natural to feel that way. I didn't realise that I was at the biggest club in history. Only an idiot can behave the way I did at Real Madrid.
Who did you develop the best on-field understanding with?
I always tell my team-mates that I've played with two of the five best players of all time: Zizou and Ronie, 'Il Fenomeno'. But I also think that if he'd kept his head firmly in the right place and been the consummate pro, Guti could have been one of the best players ever.
A lot of people say that.
Guti had bags of quality. Bags of it! He was on another planet.
And Zidane?
I take my hat off to him, both as a player and as a guy. The way he trained! He never spoke, but listen: in a year and a half he opened his mouth three times, and when he did everybody stopped and listened to him without saying a single word.
He didn't speak often...
He trained flat out, flat out. Always. And he always looked for the team to train flat out. He and Raúl were the two leaders, but in different ways. One spoke as captain, and the other, Zizou, spoke when he had to and everyone listened.
Do you think he'll do well as a coach?
I think he's going to be a top coach. If Zizou says something, as a player you listen to him. Not many have the personality and the confidence that he does. He made history. If he tells a player to do something, who's going to tell him otherwise?
Who did better with the girls when you were at Madrid: David Beckham or you?
Me! David was perfect, but he also behaved himself [laughs]. I was the one who got up to mischief; he was married. All the girls were after David, but it wasn't possible because he was married and already had kids. I had a girlfriend when I arrived in Madrid, but within a month...
Food, sex and football. Is there anything else to life?
Perfect! That's the perfect life. Until 2 February 2008, eh? Then I met my wife. But until 2008, absolutely.
Have you been a sex addict?
Yes.... Yes. When you're 20 years old and you like girls, you have it in you to do it every day. And I had the chance to. I was Cassano, the Real Madrid player! If I'd had any other job, nobody would have looked at me, not even my mother [laughs]! I'm a nice guy, but I'm not a looker.
Did a night of crazy sex improve your on-field performance?
If it's Madrid we're talking, then no. I wasn't in the team, because I was 10 kilos overweight. It's as simple as that. I had my head elsewhere. But at Roma I reckon so...
And are you addicted to eating?
Yes... I still am. As a friend of mine says, when you eat nice things, you get fat.
How much did you weigh when you arrived at Real Madrid?
93 [kilos]!
But how tall are you?
I'm 1.75m [5'9"]. My ideal weight is 83. I started this season at Sampdoria on 95 kilos...
At Madrid you had a reputation for your eating at the team hotel before matches...
I had a friend at the Mirasierra [hotel, where Real Madrid usually spent the night before home games until 2013], and at 10 o'clock he would bring whatever food I wanted to my room. I'd give him 200 or 500 euros. The pity was that he wasn't there when we played away.
Why did Fabio Capello, Real's coach at the time, banish you from the first team?
Everyone says it's because I imitated him, but it's not true. I had a fall-out with him at Xerez. We won 3-1 and he had me warming up for 45 minutes. Me and Ronaldo. I was raging. We almost came to blows. But he was right then, and he still is now. Capello got the best out of me. One season under him at Roma, I scored 23 goals. Why? Because he was always on top of me, hammering away at me.
Do you enjoy the role of a rebel footballer?
Maybe… I was a complete disaster for the first 16 years of my life. Call it being a rebel, being mad. Then I found it impossible to change when I became a professional footballer. I’m happy like this…
How did being born in Bari, in the South, affect your football?
Most of us in the south of Italy have a little bit of a son of a bitch in them… I mean, we are very sharp. I’m from a place where the only thing there is to do is play with a ball. The people around me didn’t like working, didn’t like going to school… They only like playing.
Where did you start to play?
In the market in the city, we’d play going round people and stalls. From two to nine, 10 or 11. I never stopped playing.
You had good time.
If you’re lucky, like me… I made my debut against Inter and scored quickly, and that fixed my life.
Where would you have ended up if you hadn’t scored that goal?
Who knows… a lot of the folk around me ended up in jail, but…
But?
But my character has given me a lot of problems. In Rome, in Madrid…
Do you find it difficult to accept authority?
When I was young I did stuff without thinking. I’m from the streets, and I’ve got a strong personality. I thought football was like it is in the street, but it’s not.
But you realised…
I’m aware of it now, but when you’re 22 or 23… Imagine it. Then when you start to have children, it changes your life.
Talking of changes, how did it affect you when you had heart surgery in 2011?
Before I didn’t believe in God, not in him or anything. When I had that problem I believe someone divine touched me with their hand. Before I cursed a lot. Now if someone else does it, I get pretty angry.
Really?
I think someone put their hand on my head and kept me alive. I believe that.
You were saved from above?
I think so, yes.
What do you remember?
Everything. When I finished the game against Roma I was dizzy coming back on the plane. I told Thiago Silva to call the doctor, who was up front. Coming down the steps I told the doctor.
What happened?
He did the old thing with following the finger with my gaze. I would have bet you all my money that my eyes were following that finger. But the doctor said: “Antonio, we’re going to hospital”.
They weren’t following the finger…
No. But I thought they were. They did all the tests, except one and everything was fine. But they wanted to do a scan of the heart, and that’s when they saw the malformation.
What did you think?
I shat myself. Back then I only had one son. I thought: “If there’s someone up there, please let me come back to see my four month old son again…” That’s why I say someone up there saved me. I believe it.
Has it changed your life a lot?
First my children changed it, then the operation.
Madrid are taking on Roma, your first major team. How do you remember your time at the club?
I’ve got good memories. When I was little I wanted to play with Totti.
How many years older was he?
Six! I was 18 and he was 24. Zidane was also playing at Juve back then…
Who was your big hero?
Maradona, because he played in the South… But now, for me, football is just one player, the number 10 for Barcelona. Nobody else. He’s first and then there’s no second. You have to go straight to third, fourth. And I’m talking about in the whole history of the game, eh!
Messi better than Maradona?
Yes, come on, five Ballon d’Ors and 26 or 28 trophies. Football is tougher now, and above all more physical than in Maradona’s time. These days they play against Messi and it’s bam, bam, bam… They batter him! And it changes nothing for him. He scores when he wants to.
And between Cristiano and Messi?
Look, Cristiano is like Nadal and Messi like Federer. Nadal is a phenomenon, but when his physique lets him down he can’t win it all. Federer is 35 and with the quality he’s got he’s always at the top. Right now Cristiano is up there with Messi, but in two or three years he’ll fall away. Messi will play to 35, 36, 37…
Totti is a little bit like you, a local lad
Yes, he made a lot of sacrifices; he’s a fantastic person. I spent six months living in his house when I signed for Roma. My dream was to play there, because of people like him. At my time Roma and Juve were the big sides and I didn’t see myself at Juve.
Why?
Because I’m very latino, and at Juve they’re like soldiers. And I couldn’t. They are professionals, who win, true. But I need to be overweight, eat what I like, tell people to piss off.
Or a coach?
Or lots of coaches, almost all of them…
How long did you say you spent with Totti?
Six months until my mother and my cousin came to live with me.
You and Totti completely fell out, what happened?
Nothing, I was 19 and he said something to me… I disrespected him and I stopped talking to him for two years.
Do you admire the Spanish football side?
Yes…In the Euro 2012 final it was impossible to beat them. We started the match, lost the ball after 10 seconds and they started: tun-tun-tun. Two and a half minutes passing. I thought: “We’re done for”. When you play against a side like that you take your hat off to them and that’s that.
What Spanish players do you like most?
Iniesta and Xavi. I always say: I was lucky enough to coincide with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. They are three out of my five favourites.
Are you hoping to go to the European Championships?
I’m dreaming of it, but I think I’ve got a one in a million chance. Conte hasn’t called me in two years. The team is working. But this year I’ve pushed myself as hard as I can. I’m back to my fighting weight.
http://en.as.com/en/2016/02/12/football/1455284458_156801.html
http://en.as.com/en/2016/02/12/football/1455303055_798551.html
