The Vice Vice President of Pirelli was a councilor of the Nerazzurri club as well as sponsor, reported the group in F.1. “Today’s pilots great talents also thanks to video games”
Symbol of Milan, stuck within its industrial history, an excellence of Italy that remains at the forefront (“with artificial intelligence the production times are shortened and new jobs are created”), it is difficult to list all the ways in which Pirelli has linked to sport: the easiest associations are those with the F1 (official supplier of the tires since 2011) and with Inter (sponsor since 1995), Red Luna in America’s Cup or the suits of a champion like Sofia Goggia.
For those who are driving it, Marco Tronchetti Provera, now executive vice -president, talking about sports means uniting the work with the many passions that have accompanied his life.
Interista right away?
“Yes, and thanks to my mother. We followed the games on the radio, with my older brother, that of the middle instead to stand out was Milan. My father was not interested in football, every now and then he pretended to be a Milanist to create some complaints at home”.
Do you remember his first time at the stadium?
“Of course, Inter-Spal. I was 10 years old, I got this splendid birthday gift. Fortunately it was a happy debut. The only discomfort was my father, who always looked on the opposite side because for him they were boys in underpants that followed a ball, instead I was fascinated …”.
“Two above all: the horse and skiing. And then obviously football because the pitch was at school”.
A footballer who remained in his heart?
“The first to hit me was angelillo elegant, with his head held high, he always saw the game. Then, many. The Inter of Moratti Father and that of Massimo had unforgettable champions: Suarez, Mazzola, Corso, Facchetti, and then Zanetti, Ronaldo, Eto’o, Sneijder, Milito. That Inter was above all a group of friends, there was a fantastic atmosphere, with Mourinho, Fans of the Wizard Herrera “.
His happiest memory linked to a sports event?
“Well, the Champions League, the year of the Triplete, was an important victory. Although in reality the semifinal with Barcelona had been more exciting. We arrived in Madrid, perhaps unconsciously, convinced of winning”.
“It was wonderful to see Thoeni, he had a special touch, skiing with harmony. In the horse racing competitions I followed the brothers of Inzeo, then I remember the victory of Fausto Gardini in the Davis Cup, at the Bonacossa club where I was a partner as a boy: he was the first to do the two -handed backhand, he was completely inelegant, but the passion that was in that little basin was incredible.
“It doesn’t exist, because even when he arrives I think immediately tomorrow.”
So the Interista season just passed is an already forgotten disappointment?
“Let’s say yes. I have the memory of a nice half of the season, then I was very away …” he says smiling.
On Milan she said: “Last season they always hurt, except with us, we hope that this year they do well, except with us”. The Milanese spirit prevails?
“Well, but not too well. That is, that they are behind with dignity. We want a dignified football Milan. I regret the real derby, those where … we won us”.
In his story as a fan and partner of Inter, one cannot fail to talk about his friendship with Massimo Moratti.
“In the end, it counts what we have lived together for almost 20 years, matters counts. At his party for 80 years it was nice to find players who have marked the history of Inter, but above all friends who lived an adventure together. Massimo perhaps changed many coaches but had the ability to keep a changing room with a humanity that prevailed everything. The office door was never closed. For someone it was very positive for me. An Inter where, even before the results came, there has always been the idea of giving hope to the fans.
Was there once you didn’t agree?
“There were no reasons, Massimo brought himself into football. There is a very realistic side, then there is the human side that every now and then puts aside the realist cut and allows itself to be only human, which is a wonderful thing”.
“Serious person, who is committed. Certainly as a coach is more difficult, but he is one who loves Inter, he will give everything himself. We need to recreate the right harmony: this year’s defeats have created tensions that must return. In the end, you always win with the locker room”.
Chivu is one who loves Inter, he will give all of himself. It is necessary that the right harmony is recreated
A madness that made to follow a sporty passion?
“I have perhaps done more follies in practicing sports than to follow him.”
F1, beyond the obvious technological connections for Pirelli, is the other great passion of his: is there a pilot to whom he is most tied?
“The first I heard about at home was Alberto Ascari and his tragedy. Then Jim Clark struck me, was elegant, he did extraordinary things in a simple way, which is what the champions do. Villeneuve was courage, the young fans loved to recognize himself in him because it was unpredictable. Ayrton Senna, the quality: human and pilot. Schumacher, the extraordinary ability to develop the machine “.
“I would not want to discontented anyone but the qualities of Verstappen are obvious, as he manages to earn that fraction of a second … in general this is a generation of great talents. The habit of video games of this generation and intense physical exercise have changed the reaction capacity of these guys, everything is faster. It is a phenomenon that concerns all sports: if you see how the Sinner’s ball travels compared to the times of Pietrangeli or Panatta … They have a different physical preparation, a measurement of their almost obsessive performance.
“A great champion who will already remain in history, I can’t say what difficulty he encountered, Ferrari had a complex beginning”.
She has repeatedly mentioned the elegance of the sports gesture. So winning is not the only thing that matters?
“No, it is clear that it counts, whoever is better wins but participating with passion is fundamental. By elegance I mean the sporting gesture that only those who have a gift, the champion, can do, making simple technical gestures appear in reality.”
In this newspaper Lella Costa admitted that Sinner is unpleasant to her. To you?
“Sympathy and antipathy are subjective, what is objective is what Djoković said.” Bather all of them, but those two, Alcaraz and Sinner, are a problem. “We have two phenomena in front of us. Again, Sinner is elegant in the game and out of the field. He plays against opponents, never against enemies. He gives a very correct interpretation of what is the original spirit of Tennis”.
Can tennis scratch the dominance of football, with a national team that risks skipping the third world championship?
“I don’t think, the kids continue to play football. We hope that Inter with Pio Esposito gives us a new big center forward. It is up to those who make the rules to help football, today you have to have two teams and make everything sustainable. Inter also has positive budgets, thanks to Beppe Marotta”. Are you a fan who follows the transfer market? Are you trying to understand if Lookman arrives?
“I have full confidence in our president, I wait for the team in the field. Lookman? I know it’s an excellent player, if Marotta chooses it, it’s okay.”
Chapter Luna Rossa: here too technological repercussions and passion joined together.
“In all sports we seek quality and technological contact points. America’s Cup is the competition at the highest level, Formula 1 of the sail. And there is also the relationship of friendship and trust with Patrizio Bertelli, his family and Max Sirena and the pride of representing two great Italian brands”.
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