The former Rossoneri today is mayor of Tblisi, the capital of his Georgia: “He gives me the same joy as when I won the Champions League with Milan”. And on the son Levan: “It looks a lot like me, it can become stronger than me”
Former European champion with AC Milan of Ancelotti, mayor of a capital, Tbilisi, who in the October elections is a candidate to administer for the third consecutive mandate, father of a footballer who resembles him and who bears the name (Levan) of Kakhaber’s brother, kidnapped in 2002 and found dead years later. Interviewing Kaladze is easy: he has so many things, beautiful and ugly, to tell that almost no questions are needed. Just listen to it.
Kaladze, let’s start with his son who, at the end of July, at 16, made his debut among the professionals.
“I am proud and happy because he loves football and waited for this moment. We will see what the future will reserve for him, but the desire to become a footballer has it: he has to work and commit himself to the maximum if he wants to succeed”.
Will the heavy surname that brings help him or will it be an obstacle?
“I don’t know. Certainly everyone will expect a lot from him. On his side he will have the help of a father who as a player has lived years in the world of the ball. Among other things, I made his own role, left -wing and even left back. Some advice I can give him”.
“A lot because physically it is very large, one meter and ninety at sixteen years old. Technically with the accident it is good, but it can and must grow. I hope it becomes even stronger than me: I know it is not easy, but if it puts us sacrifice and commitment, character and desire to do, with a little bit of luck, it can reach the maximum”.
When he was born, in 2009, he gave him the name of his brother who was kidnapped and then killed.
“What happened to my brother was a terrible thing: he made my family suffer tremendously and destroyed my first year to Milan. The news of his kidnapping (in 2001, editor’s note) and then of his death (ascertained in 2006, editor’s note) were pain that I will bring into the whole life. I cannot give me peace for what happened to my brother”.
How did he manage to go on?
“I don’t know where I found the strength, but it helped me a lot to be at Milan and have a group of exceptional guys next to it. And then I am strong and I knew that if I had fallen, my family would have been overwhelmed. I went on and we have passed this drama. The fact that my son bears my brother’s name makes my memory live in me even more”.
With all his commitments as Mayor of Tbilisi, can he follow his son’s career?
“I find it time even if administering the capital of my country, a city of one and a half million inhabitants, is complicated. In football as in politics, one alone can do nothing. Not even if it is Ronaldo … you need a great team of people who work with you and in this respect, I was lucky. That’s why I decided to apply for the third term in the elections of 4 October and I am convinced of winning this battle: with our party, we want to make our party, with our party, capital and our country “.
The war between Russia and Ukraine that has lasted for over three years, how is it seen closely, from her Georgia?
“The situation in our region is worrying, but more generally I am worried what is happening in the world, all the other conflicts that are there and bring death and destruction. We like Georgia are part of Europe and we are doing everything possible for the war to end”.
To Tbilisi, help the Ukrainians who fled their country.
“Some have arrived and remained here, others are in nearby cities. They live a terrible situation: some have lost family members, the house and everything they had. I hope the war will end soon”.
Was he more comfortable as a defender or now as mayor?
“(Laughs) Being the mayor is an important commitment: the responsibilities are many, but when I can do beautiful things for the city and the inhabitants are happy, I feel a big joy as when I won with Milan”.
What message does he want to launch to Franco Baresi that a delicate health moment is passing?
“They told me and I hope Franco recovers soon. I’m at his side and I love him.”
With the boys of his Milan you are always in contact via WhatsApp.
“We were an exceptional group and we remained friends after some time. Playing in that Milan was an incredible pride and satisfaction for me. Thanks to President Berlusconi, in Galliani and Braida had formed a family and we had to think only to play: for everything that happened off the pitch, they were there. They also helped me with the story of my brother. Milan will always be a second home for me, not just a club with an shoulders”.
If we ask her for a memory of the Rossoneri years, choose the first or second Champions League won?
“The second allowed us to avenge the defeat of Istanbul against Liverpool, but the first was something exceptional because there were several young people in the group who had never tried such an emotion. Beat Juve in Manchester was something unique and most of the merit was from Ancelotti, a special person”.
Now on the Milan bench there is Allegri.
“Allegri is a winner and Modric a champion. At Milan I wish to return to the Champions League, which is Milan’s house, and then to win again. Even if I am far away, I will always be Milanist”.
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