The former AC Milan goalkeeper: “Evaristo took the ball and started with his zig-zags. Today he would be a regular starter for the national team”
Enrico Albertosi, known as Ricky. Born in 1939, like his friend and Inter rival goalkeeper Lido Vieri. “Eh, I’m 86 now, but I have a good memory and good memories.”
Remember Evaristo Beccalossi?
“Dear boy, how sorry I am. He was a joy to behold.”
She remembers when, after scoring two goals for her in a Milan derby, he told her: “I’m Evaristo, sorry if I insist…”.
“No, I don’t remember it. For the simple fact that he never said it. And he would never have allowed himself. I was 40 years old, he was, I think at the first derbies. He must have been in his early twenties.”
And, on October 28, 1979, he scored twice against the great Ricky Albertosi…
“Yes, unfortunately I remember it very well. One in the first half and one almost at the end of the match.”
And after the second he told her…
“He didn’t tell me anything. He said it after, I think, the television journalist Beppe Viola. He ran away happy, like all those who scored did. Towards the center or the touchline. Inter hadn’t won against us for several years, I think five. We were Italian champions, with the scudetto and the star on our chest.”
Inter also had the star. They called that match the “derby of the stars”. Do you remember it?
“That day it was raining and we didn’t play well. Then we made some mistakes in defence. I remember that at the end my friend Aldo Maldera was very angry. We made too many mistakes, he said too much. Then Inter deservedly won the championship. But, speaking of stars, the real one was Beccalossi.”
“A lot. I liked how he played, how he enjoyed himself and entertained people. He took the ball and left. He never gave it back, he never came back, he sprinted in a zig-zag. Away, forward, not like footballers do now.”
Was he a champion, Beccalossi?
“Yes, a wonderful player, full of talent and imagination. Unfortunately he was born at the wrong time, there were many champions. Today he would be a regular starter for the national team.”
Remember the controversies of 1982? Coach Bearzot left him at home…
“He preferred Antognoni. Guys, I say Antognoni. Then Italy became world champions. Then there were many good players. Now it’s different.”
“Different. Everything has changed. Technique, tactics, preparation, way of experiencing football. Too much anxiety, too many fears. But don’t you see that everyone passes the ball backwards? At Milan, just to give an example, Maignan touches more balls than Leao.”
Up front, few touch the ball and no one shoots on goal. Not good, right?
Inter, on the other hand, wins and wins by a landslide and scores with ease. Do you like Inter?
“Yes. Even though I’m still an old goalkeeper inside, it’s nice to see so many goals scored.”
Would Beccalossi play for this Inter?
“Would he play? And he asks me? Becca was a wonderful player and would make a difference today too. His football was cheerful. You could see it when he came in and when he faced the opponent. Once they said: it was worth the price of the ticket. Well, he was one of these. On the pitch he drove you crazy. Then we found ourselves at the bar drinking and smoking. Opponents on the pitch, friends off.”
«Of course, a package a day. Then I played and then went to the racecourse.”
Gianni Rivera said and still says now: Albertosi was the best of all. But did she believe it?
“Of course. I always felt strong, decisive, without problems. I was very advanced and not only in terms of position. I liked playing with my feet, even if I didn’t have those of Maignan or Carnesecchi.”
Let’s go back to Inter. Is it true that he had to become a Nerazzurri player?
“Yes, twice. The first: I played for Spezia, amateurs, close to home. I did an endless audition, which started at 9 in the morning and ended late at night. Then Fiorentina arrived. Dad didn’t want it, I did my master’s exams: “Finish school, football is temporary”. My mother helped me and I went to Florence.”
Ten championships for Fiorentina, in 1969 Inter came back to life. What happened?
“One evening Italo Allodi calls me: “So, everything’s done: you’re one of us”. Well, well, I could already see myself in Milan. A few days later the president Nello Baglini calls me up. “Everything’s done”, he says. “I know, I say, I’m happy, I like Inter, it’s a good choice”. His eyes widen: “Inter? Look, I sold you to Cagliari”. I remained there, open-mouthed like an idiot. I didn’t want to go to Cagliari. But I had no power. I went there, with a good contract. I wish I had done it before: it was my luck, wonderful place. I won a great scudetto.”
At Inter he would have played and won with Beccalossi…
“I would have loved it. It was the beauty of football.”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
