The former striker: “I’d give David a second chance, but we need a big signing in the summer. Dusan has disappointed me.”
I score, therefore I am. “I hear a lot of talk about algorithms, but at Juventus I learned a simpler lesson: winning is all that matters. And if you’re a striker, all that matters is scoring goals and winning.“ David Trezeguet has returned to live in Argentina, in Buenos Aires, and is developing projects for River Plate. ”Marketing and sponsors. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Intercontinental Cup won by Juve in the final against River, it would be nice to organize a friendly match.” Juventus, Turin, and Italy are still home for Trezegol. “And to think that Lippi, after a year at Juventus, wanted to send me to Inter in exchange for Vieri. Then he changed his mind and appreciated me. In the end, I stayed for ten years. That’s not something everyone can do,” remarks the Frenchman proudly, the best foreign goalscorer in the history of the Old Lady (171 goals).
“No, the most critical moment was in 2004. I couldn’t reach an agreement to renew my contract. Moggi was rightly looking after the club’s interests. But I hadn’t forgotten what he had said to me when I signed in 2000, a few days before I scored against Italy in the European Championship final: ‘Juve’s center forward has to score to earn his keep’. ‘ He was absolutely right. So when I reached 100 goals, I asked for a raise. Moggi was tempted to sell me to Barcelona. Capello was decisive. Fabio called me and asked me to stay, but at that time he was still at Roma… In fact, I didn’t trust him that much, but in the end it turned out well. We had a great team and I thought it would be easier to win the Champions League with Juventus. Instead, Barça triumphed in 2006.“ Do you regret it? ”Not at all. I’m also proud to have been relegated to Serie B with Juve after Calciopoli. In football terms, I lost a year, but I gained the love of the fans and the club: that’s worth more. In Serie B, everything was strange: every game was a national holiday for our opponents.“
Do you think back on the negotiations with Juventus?
”Zidane and Deschamps, with whom I had won the World Cup with France, advised me to join them in Turin. Platini also called me before I signed. They all told me the same thing: ‘David, here you will be judged on your goals’. After my successes with Monaco, I felt the need for a challenge like that. Zizou helped me a lot at the beginning, he always took me to eat at his favorite restaurant in the foothills.”
Did you ever give your teammates a gift?
“For my 100th goal, I organized a huge party in Turin, in a club in the Quadrilatero district. The best dancers? Montero, Zalayeta… What a group. When Nedved won the Ballon d’Or, he gave everyone a gift.”
Before signing, Zidane told me: here, only winning counts. In Turin, he always took me to eat at his favorite restaurant.
David Trezeguet
Did you or Camoranesi get more fines?
“Mauro was Ballon d’Or material… Even now, when we joke around, he says he was the biggest contributor to Turin’s hospitals with his Juve fines. Mauro is like a brother to me, and I’m happy to see him coaching: I never would have imagined it.“
What is the secret to your goals in the penalty area?
”Instinct and training. Ever since I was a child, I practiced hitting the ball on the fly. I liked the pressure of always having to score; I wanted to finish.”
Even now, are Juventus strikers judged by their goals, or have times changed?
“Juve’s history hasn’t changed. Strikers are expected to score goals to win. And the club is expected to win the Scudetto, which for one reason or another has been missing for six years. That’s too long.”
More disappointed with David (7 goals) or Openda (2)?
“I would have expected more from Vlahovic too. He got injured this year, but he’s in his fifth season in Turin and even now it’s not clear whether he’s really a number nine for Juve. I was super optimistic about Dusan when he arrived from Fiorentina. Partly because he’s Serbian and I had fond memories of Kovacevic, a real beast on the pitch. And partly because Vlahovic is fast, physical, technically gifted, and scored a lot in Florence. But the Juve shirt is different. If people are still talking about Vlahovic as a promising player, something’s not right.”
Juventus is thinking of renewing Vlahovic’s contract, which expires in June: do you agree?
“I don’t get involved in these discussions, I’m focused on River. I would take Lewandowski on a free transfer, even at 37: he’s in a different league, he’s one of the last true number nines along with Haaland. Lewa may not have the physique he once had, but even though he didn’t always play for Barcelona, he scored 14 goals: he’s strong and intelligent. Lewandowski would arrive at Juve knowing where he’s coming from and what’s expected of him: goals. If there was a chance, I’d carry him to Turin myself.”
The fans have rejected David and Openda: what about you?
“David played for Lille, where it’s important to do well and not win at all costs. It’s not easy to settle in quickly at Juventus. Now David has got to know Serie A, his teammates, and Spalletti. He deserves a chance to redeem himself next season; the lad has quality. David made only one serious mistake: he showed up promising 25 goals. A silly thing to do, for which he is now paying. Openda? I’ve known him since his days at Lens. He’s fast and talented, but he didn’t make his mark at Leipzig. Which is not Bayern.“ Has Yildiz gotten closer to ”his” Del Piero?
“Ale is unique. But now I watch Juventus to see them win and for Yildiz, who is special. He’s the only one who can create plays out of nothing. And he enjoys himself on the pitch. False 9? No, better as a 10 starting from the left.”
