The Dazn presenter: “I grew up in a family of Roman supporters and as a child I also supported the Giallorossi. It’s a pain not to have graduated: if I have a son, he will do so”
She fell in love with football thanks to her grandfather, but with the ball at her feet she can’t do more than two dribbles. Giorgia Rossi, presenter and journalist of Dazn, talks about herself and does not hide her dreams, from that of going on stage at Sanremo to that of acting in a film, but the focus remains on her current work. With the ball at the center of everything.
Giorgia, how did you become passionate about football?
“Thanks to the love for my grandfather Mario. Getting closer to this sport was a way to share something with him and my father Roberto. I was eight years old and I asked to go to the stadium with them. The spark immediately struck.”
What was the first race you saw live?
“Roma-Vicenza 2-0, with Candela’s debut and Balbo’s brace. The emotion of being at the Olimpico, in the Tevere stands, was enormous: for me it was all new and beautiful, even though I had already appreciated how much my family was linked to football on the occasion of Italia ’90: in the garden of my uncle’s beach house, at every Italy match there were 10-15 people with tricolor flags.”
And the one he won’t forget?
“The 2008 Champions League final, with the penalty kicked over by John Terry. I saw it on TV, in a particular period of my life when I was studying to become a journalist, after being left without a job. I was desperate for him who had slipped on the spot.”
She comes from a Romanist family. He confirms?
“Yes. My family was all made up of Roma fans and so was… little girl Giorgia”.
Football was and is in her DNA, yet she says she can’t do two dribbles. Real?
“Maybe I can do two headers. Not really with my feet.”
Dimarco is the player who entertained me the most
Did you ever think that football would become your job?
“At 16 I had a passion for writing and football: I combined the two things and gave myself a goal. A few months later I started collaborating for a local TV station in Rome and… here I am”.
If you could choose a guest for your new format on Dazn, Giorgia’s Secret, who would you like between Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar?
“Neymar because I believe he has a lot to tell, many gray areas to reveal.”
“Mourinho. It’s the first that comes to mind. José, if you want I’m here.”
And among the greats of the past?
“Roberto Baggio. And I certainly would have liked Maradona.”
Can you tell us something about the next episodes?
“At the end of the season, an interview with Beppe Marotta will be released. The president of Inter will relive his entire career in football and project himself towards the future because Inter doesn’t end here, on the contrary, it relaunches.”
Is the Nerazzurri scudetto deserved?
“For me, yes. It was the team capable of remaining constant in a championship in which the competitors were not up to par. Great credit to Cristian Chivu for his mental and tactical work.”
Your favorites in the sprint for the Champions League?
“Milan and Juve because they are ahead.”
The best match of the year?
The player who entertained you the most?
Is not getting a law degree a regret?
“It’s a personal pain. I tried to ‘reopen’ my university career after interrupting my studies, but unfortunately I would have to start all over again because the deadlines had expired. I also had very high grades… If I ever had a child, I would advise him to graduate for himself, not for professional reasons.”
What if they offered you a role in a film?
“I would accept. In fact, Aurelio (De Laurentiis, ed.) why haven’t you called me yet? I have incredible skills. It would be the revenge of the blondes (laughs, ed.)”.
What relationship does it have with music?
“I listen to it mostly in the car, when I’m alone. I really like to contextualize it with respect to the period I’m living in.”
Is going on stage at Sanremo a dream?
“Yes, in the sense that it would be a magnificent, special experience, to be taken with great responsibility. It would be a dream to even be able to tread that stage for just one minute: I have always been passionate about the Festival, I have followed it with my family since I was a child and we have never missed an edition”.
Who is a woman in history who inspired you?
“Definitely Rita Levi-Montalcini. There is a phrase of hers that I always keep in mind: ‘Do not fear difficult moments. The best comes from there’. She is right: they are the ones who strengthen us and make us grow.”
Athletics, tennis or padel: among the sports you have practiced or practice now, which is your favourite?
“Athletics and tennis. As a child I was good at both the racket and athletics because I was very fast, I had longer legs than the other girls and in the 100 and 200 meters I had absolutely good times. At a certain point, however, I chose to concentrate on my studies and gave up sport. I would like to start playing tennis again because I had a great two-handed backhand (laughs, ed.). I also tried to get back on the court, but I’m very competitive and if I’m not at tennis you train…”.
Who was your favorite tennis player?
“Roger Federer. Today Alcaraz and Sinner are my idols, but I also like Cobolli a lot.”
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