The former French playmaker: “I owe a lot to Spalletti, he taught me to read the game. Totti played and suffered for the colors of the shirt, he looked like Puyol”
His greatest quality has always been intelligence. He stole time, understanding the game in advance, often taking one touch less. And where he didn’t reach with his physique – just 164cm tall – he always made up for it with great readings and sublime plays. Ludovic Giuly also does it in front of the microphones, anticipating the first question. “I already know he wants to ask me about the goal against Milan. It’s the best memory I have in Italy.” It was also his last performance at the Olimpico. A turn under the south curve, fundamental for a Roma team that was chasing Mancini’s Inter and fighting for the scudetto. Giuly only played one year in Serie A, the 2007-08 season with Spalletti as coach.
Giuly, let’s start from Sunday’s match at San Siro. Space for memories: at Milan he scored one of his six goals scored in Italy.
“Yes, I also remember the action: Vucinic tries to break through, a melee is created and the ball comes to me. I coordinate myself and in half a turn I put it past the goalkeeper. That goal was also decisive for the victory.”
Spalletti, now the new coach of Juventus, was on the bench in that Roma team.
“He was the one who wanted me. I remember a couple of calls even before I decided to accept. He was great, he taught me how to take care of the tactical part. Sometimes he was really obsessive, we repeated the same thing over and over again… but then in the match exactly what he had told us during the week would happen. He is a master at reading matches.”
Did Mexes also convince you?
“Yes… let’s say that that summer he marked me closely, until the moment of signing. I wanted to leave Barcelona and was looking for new stimuli, he helped me settle in. After a few months I already knew everything about the city.”
Many things have been said about his farewell to Roma, did he suffer from training that was too hard?
“Well, many things were misinterpreted. At the beginning I was used to it differently, but I learned quickly and made myself available. Then I was 32 years old and I was no longer a kid, but that’s certainly not why I chose to leave at the end of the year.”
“Many reasons together, not just one. Among these is also wanting to play more.”
Do you take anything away from your experience with the Giallorossi?
“The affection of the fans, a curve like that is something unique. I remember when I arrived, an incredible crowd at the airport. Even when we won the Italian Cup it was beautiful.”
Totti was in attack with you, was he surprised by anything?
“I have played with many champions, when I arrived in Rome I didn’t expect to find someone so strong. He amazed me with his leadership and charisma: one look was enough for him to command respect. Furthermore, Francesco is a true fan, someone who suffers together with the city if he doesn’t win. In this he reminded me of Puyol”.
In Barcelona, however, he played with Messi, Eto’o and Ronaldinho. A flash?
“Well what can I say, it was a continuous show. And I’m talking above all about the training sessions. I certainly didn’t discover Dinho, but during the week he really left you speechless. It’s football in its purest form. Together with him and Samuel, Messi’s talent was blossoming: he was already an extraterrestrial. None of us ever had the slightest doubt. Even just in the matches you could see that he was different from the others.”
Could Yamal be Leo’s heir?
“Yes, but he must be followed and given time. Above all he must be advised by the right people. Talent is not enough to play at the Bernabeu, it takes a lot of mental strength. Yamal is young, he must learn.”
In closing, let’s go back to Sunday’s match. What challenge will it be?
“They are two great teams, I expect a good challenge. It will be a battle. I will support the Giallorossi, I remained tied to Rome and its people even if I only lived there for one season.”
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