Speaking to Relevothe former captain of the national team Leonardo Bonucci he spoke like this about tonight’s match between Spain and Italy, a match he knows very well: “It’s a different Spain to the one we’ve seen in the last twenty years. It has a much more vertical football. It has good players capable of maintaining a high technical level. They are incisive and dangerous. I also say that I saw a great Italy against Albania, then I assume that it will be a difficult match for both.
He has played against Spain many times since his debut in 2010…
“The 2012 Spain team was at a level that was too high compared to ours. However, four years later we surprised them. With Antonio Conte on the bench we knew we had many chances to win. Also seeing the generational change that was already underway, it is 2016 was perhaps the worst Spain in recent years. I was really impressed. Honestly, we had a bit of luck. I always said it was the most difficult match I had ever played in the European Championship we were also very determined and cynical in knowing how to exploit our opportunities on the counterattack and then also defend the result. In the penalties, luck rewarded us again.”
Let’s talk about Fabian Ruiz… Ancelotti brought him to Napoli, but his football in Italy was not fully understood. Was he underestimated?
“Perhaps, on a media level, he achieved less than he actually did. The goal against Croatia defines him, both technically and stylistically. He is an intelligent footballer, necessary in a team like Spain.”
What can you tell us about Riccardo Calafiori?
“Great player. I like the way he interprets the game. I also tell you that if Manaj had scored, people would have judged him differently. Unfortunately, footballers are subject to these judgments based on individual incidents. You shouldn’t judge by one mistake. Both Calafiori and Bastoni are and will be the Azzurri’s starting defenders for years.”
Many footballers have had media difficulties since they were young… Morata is one of those:
“He is a great friend. Alvaro and I talk often. I think he has grown a lot. He has had a great evolution, especially from a human point of view. As a footballer he has always been good. He scored many goals wherever he went. The problem, from my point of view, is that he paid a very high price for having had to change teams too many times. If his career had been in Spain for fifteen years, and in the same team, I think he would not have had so much criticism today When he arrived in Serie A he was very young and needed to be protected.”