«The real final of 2006? That was against Germany,» said the former Inter player at a sports festival. Speaking about «The Alien,» he added: «Ronaldo has no equal.» And when Berlusconi's mask appeared…

34-year-old Marco from Levico Terme has supported Inter since he learned to crawl. A tattoo on his right thigh proves it: a trophy with big ears (you know?), two colors (spoiler: black and blue), and a screaming boy. «That's Marco Materazzi, or rather, Matrix. My idol. Someone who always worked hard and achieved what he has today through his efforts,» Marco muttered in the front row to his «music.» He was just one of many Inter fans in Piazza Duomo in Trento who came specifically for the MM23 event—also the title of his new book: «I just met him, he signed my thigh. Now I need to get it tattooed.» The conversation with Matrix at the sports festival began in this Nerazzurri atmosphere.

From «The Alien» to That Mask

Piazza Duomo in Trento looked exactly like Piazza Duomo in Milan. Besides Marco, the front row was filled with Nerazzurri fans. The moment Ronaldo Nazário, «The Alien,» appeared on screen… the crowd erupted instantly. «He's the greatest of all time. If I had played against him, I wouldn't even have been able to touch him because I couldn't have caught him. I remember having a medical exam for Inter and meeting him in the CONI building. Guess who I saw first? Ronaldo.» And when Berlusconi's mask appeared, there was another burst of laughter: «A few days later I called Mister Moratti, and he laughed with me. I told him: 'President, I learned from you.' He replied: 'Don't worry.' Then we both laughed.»

Victories in His Nerazzurri Career

Of course, much time was devoted to the championship titles won during his time with the Nerazzurri. The conversation started with the 2007 Serie A title: «I remember talking with my kids. A week before, we had a chance to become Italian champions, but we didn't take it, and they cried. Before the trip to Siena, I went to them and said: 'Don't worry, we'll win.' Promises made to children must be kept, and I kept mine.» He also scored twice. The coach at the time was Mancini: «We argued a lot. He had his ideas, and I had mine. I like to solve problems face to face. But after the World Cup, he told me I was no longer untouchable. So I thought: 'So two goals at the World Cup were enough...' After that, we got along very well. And because of that, I continued playing even with some minor injuries.»

Inter's Treble

The subject of the Treble was, of course, inevitable, and Marco also enjoyed this element. The first page of La Gazzetta dello Sport from May 23, 2010, appeared on screen—the day after the Madrid night: «Only Inter.» Then Matrix began to speak: «I knew that year I wouldn't be a starter; I had already spoken with José Mourinho. He didn't lie to me; I knew my role. It was about working hard and helping the team. Winning the Champions League was the perfect ending. I remember the famous match on May 5, 2002: me, Córdoba, Toldo, and Zanetti were there. Eight years later, in 2010, we were all still there.» In short, the Treble. «In Italy, only Inter managed this,» added the former defender. The crowd erupted in applause again.

Maradona and the National Team

In the MM23 book there's also a somewhat nostalgic but exceptionally valuable photo of him with Diego Armando Maradona: «He was a genuine and pure person; his passing was a great loss for world football,» explained Matrix. Discussing a possible one-on-one match, he admitted: «It's like playing against Ronaldo and Messi—you can't defend against them or limit them at all. I saw Diego play against Lazio live; it was thrilling. Perhaps he didn't train as much as others, but on Sunday he could win a match single-handedly, just as soon as he woke up.» After watching a video with Valentino Rossi, also included in the book, much of the conversation focused on the national team: «Stadio Olimpico is the place where I experienced the strongest emotions, where I became world champion. But the real final of that World Cup was against Germany. On the first day we arrived, all Italians living there told us: 'You can't lose to them.' And if I had to stay another three or four days for a third-place match, I would have gone crazy.»

Current Events

The final topic returned to the present: «Inter Milan? I've been saying for four years that we're the strongest, and we've truly missed out on some titles along the way. Many doubted Inzaghi, but he's done very well, and the results speak for themselves. When you see the whole team embracing each other, you understand how he's won the players' trust.» This closing remark set Piazza Duomo ablaze again: «The Serie A title? We're still stronger than the others...» Then the crowd erupted in final applause.

Переведено ИИ.

Сайт AF теперь доступен! Читайте полные новости, комментарии, детали матчей и статистику на компьютере. Посетите: www.allfootballapp.com