MY HEART IS DIVIDED BUT THIS TIME I WOULD SAY INTER
At lunch in Milan with Il Fenomeno. "I saw Moratti and spoke with Galliani. Leonardo is class in human relationships."
RONALDO CHOOSES INTER
"Derby and Scudetto. Milan need to be careful."
"I saw Moratti in person and spoke with Galliani on the phone. I often hear from Leonardo who is class in relationships."
Milan - A return which can sink your hearts. The first half of the personal Ronaldo derby was played Monday afternoon at the headquarters of Inter. "I wanted to see the cup: the real one, the Champions League but it wasn't there. They explained to me that the cup has been going around Italy." A greeting with old friends, especially a hug with Marco Tronchetti Provera and Massimo Moratti, the man that (very strongly) wanted him in Italy. "The president is one of the most important people in my life. He is well, and it is always nice to see him winning." The second half was on Monday night, at the restaurant Finger's, to see one of the owners that is Seedorf and others. At the table with Giovanni Branchini and Davide Bega like a father and a brother instead of agent and personal adviser, and then hugs with old teammate Fabio Galente, talking and drinking with Robinho also. First half of extra time, a phone call with Adriano Galliano: "I was liked and the Milan directors have always treated me well." Second half of extra time when he said hello to Pato in a hotel Finally, it is penalty kick time for lunch because old habit do not change: as the phone continued ringing, he started eating the fried shrimps made my his friend Graziano, the only dish that he just could not miss when he returned to the city that consecrated Il Fenomeno.
Ronaldo, who do you miss in Milan?
"Friends and the feeling of coming home. I have always been loved here in Milan, not Barcelona, not Madrid."
Do you miss Italy or Milan more?
What memory that I got from this country? The respect and in the end the affection. I have always felt it by everyone regardless of what team they are rooting for.
And Inter and Milan?
"At Inter I miss Moratti, this is the family that has been with this team in the past and will continue to be so in the future, as least that I was told by everyone, including Leonardo. At Milan, I was there less but I was find. I was especially impressed with the structure and professionalism of the club."
Of course what you did did upset Moratti...
"Oh I know. Then when we talked, it was hidden. But it was so long ago after all."
Would you do it again?
"I wanted to go back to Inter and for a long time what was what I hoped for."
Well, ya, but to Milan? You didn't think that you would be viewed as a traitor?
"Milan offer me a chance, for me at that moment was a great challenge. And there I started to re-grow my hair... Berlusconi always said that keeping it long make me look younger and better. Too bad I badly hurt myself again but it was fun in such a short time."
Today in Italy, perhaps there is less fun because our football is going through a difficult time if not even in crisis. From abroad, do you have this impression?
"Maybe the football is a bit inferior but it is sure much cleaner." :star:
Are you alluding to Calciopoli?
"I allude to the fact that I discovered later when I left Italy. Because with Inter, I won so little. Or less than what I should have won." :star:
More regrets or more bitterness?
"Let's say that I was comforted a little bit on May 22 of last year. I wanted to be there that day too, in the sense that I wanted to live that great joy in the shirt of Inter. However, I was too happy for Moratti, for the fans, to my former teammates. They waited for that moment for so long and they deserved it especially when they eliminated Barcelona."
So do you prefer Mourinho or Guardiola?
"I would say Mourinho because I know him well during his time at Barcelona. He had a great time there although I did not imagine that he would have this type of career."
What are your thoughts about Leonardo?
"We played together at the '98 World Cup and since then we are friends. A Milanista like him also said yes to Inter because he did it just like me. We both wanted the taste of the challenges and the courage to make a difficult choice, without the fear of being viewed as a traitor."
Well, what did he say?
"He is happy, very happy for his choice."
But what really is his secret?
"He is a simple person, very intelligent. He is also class at human relationships. He knows how to deal with people, his players and he will win at the end."
So now, Inter can win a lot more because there is Leonardo?
"I am not at Inter so I can only judge from the outside, from what I was told. I understood that the group lost happiness, confidence with Benitez and Leonardo was able to bring it back. And the rest was getting results."
People say that Pato could become your successor. But he has yet done what he is capable of...
"Pato has crazy quality but he is still basically a boy. And then he had a fre crashes too. He can be very good in the future but don't think of him as the first striker because he is not a first striker."
Coming from a first striker, can Thiago Silva become the strongest defender in the world?
"He is already very good and for me he can be the new Maldini. One that is capable of entering the history of Milan."
Now talk to us like a coach. On your team, would you like to have Ibrahimovic or Eto'o?
"Both, no?"
No, you must choose one.
"Instinctively I would say Ibrahimovic because he has more imagination, more unpredictable. But no one has won like Eto'o, no one knows how to win the matches that count like Eto'o."
So what?
"So I say I would take them both."
Allegri would gladly to have Ibrahimovic for the derby. Which absence is heavier? His or that of Lucio?
"They are two important players but I think at this time Milan have a great need for Ibrahimovic."
Your most beautiful derby?
"Perhaps the 0-3 win at their home. The lob over Sebastiano Rossi from Moriero's pass. I also scored a fine goal for Milan but then we lost the game and a loss for me would never be a good match."
Direct response: Who will win this derby?
"A derby is a derby..."
No, I don't understand. Direct response!
"Ok I think Inter. Because they have found their game, but above all trust. Here I see that Inter are having more confidence than Milan and this may count."
And if they win the derby, Inter could become the favorite for the title?
"Hard to say with 7 games left but I think so."
Despite two competitions in Champions League and the league?
"You know what Leonardo has always said? Winning will help you win. It is difficult but it is very beautiful. Inter are successful after spending a lot of time and a ton of effort. They don't want to stop right now."