Giacomo Ferri: “This Turin can grow further”

Giacomo Ferri, after the many years spent at Toro as a footballer, coach and manager, has remained very attached to the grenade universe even now that he is only a television commentator on 7Gold. With him we review the season that went into the archives by focusing the lens on defense and midfield, i.e. the roles he played as a player.

Who struck you the most among the men in the rearguard?

“Alessandro Buongiorno, without a shadow of a doubt. And I add: from what he has shown this season, I predict him a bright blue future. After this debut against the Netherlands, where he performed very well, I am convinced that he will soon become a fixed point of the group and will remain for a long time in the national team. Mancini has in fact already included him in the group with which he will leave in September”.

What are the main qualities?

“The timing in the advances and the ability to foresee the dangers in the area. I know Alessandro from the youth sector and I have to certify how he has improved year after year. I think his growth has not finished, he can do even better, but he is already a warranty”.

Does it remind you of any of your past friends?

“The way he moves and manages the defense reminds me of Giovanni Francini. And I’m talking about a defender wanted at Napoli by a certain Maradona… Buongiorno also rules the left wing and pushes forward thanks to a good touch with the ball, he has initiatives, he’s a modern defender. And he’s also at ease as a centre-back”.

Like Schuurs? The Dutchman also played on the right but he prefers to lead the department from in the middle.

“Here is another element that I really liked for the ability to limit every opponent without resorting to fouls. It means being great, it means foreseeing the outcomes of the game, with timely and intelligent moves. And he too knows how to launch the ball forward foot out of the area”.

Money well invested, then?

“To me Vagnati’s latest markets, made with the economic support of Cairo, seem well thought out: we have a young and competitive base”.

With some spry thirty-year-olds, like Djidji who is about to extend.

“He and Rodriguez have shown that they are still capable and after all I define thirty-year-olds as mature, expert footballers, not old men… Djidji is someone Juric trusts very much and therefore he is right to remain in Toro, surrounded by esteem. The Swiss surprised me this year because compared to his period in Milan he managed to improve both in defense and in support. Before he pushed a lot but left something to be desired in coverage. This season he defended well and when Juric had need him as a left-footed winger, he has almost always responded well”.

Czech David Zima had to miss the entire second leg through injury.

“A real pity. For him and for Toro who has a talent at home. I appreciated him last season and now I hope he can come to training camp perfectly intact. In order to continue and complete the maturation process that started the The past year. He is a defender with great potential, he can become a staple of our team. Juric is right to want to wait for him, he is a valuable boy”.

Here we are with the cover midfielders: how do you see the Ricci-Ilic tandem?

“Eh, we’re at the top here. They form a couple like there are few, with their different qualities that complement each other. The Italian in front of the defense has grown month after month. He has strength, personality. You’ll see that he will do like Buongiorno, that is we will soon find him in Mancini’s national team, and he will remain there for a long time”.

Ilic is already in the Serbian representative

“And this is precisely the note to underline because he is a player of just 22 who looks 28 on the pitch, he seems rich in experience. It is clear to me the reason that prompted Juric to insist so much with president Cairo. And the investment made in winter by the company, huge since we are talking about 17-18 million, proved to be an excellent coup. Ilic and Ricci will walk side by side for a long time. And this year Linetty has been able to make herself useful on various occasions both for closures and in the restarts. Like Rodriguez, I found him improved. And the main merit goes to our coach”.