The former defender recounts the near tragedy that befell him on his birthday: “A shock that was difficult to overcome, physically and psychologically. Chivu is one of us, and it’s a source of pride to see him at the helm of Inter.”

Just being able to use those two little words with a hyphen, Juve-Inter, is life for Lucio, the 47-year-old Nerazzurri stalwart in the Triplete wall and a distracted passer-by in a Bianconeri season: four months ago, the former Brazilian defender risked his life in a domestic accident, an eco-friendly fireplace exploded, leaving him with burns over 18% of his body and 20 days in hospital between intensive care and delicate surgery. “I’m here to tell the tale, God has given me a second half of the game: it will take time to get over the shock, especially in my head,” he says on the phone.

How are you now?

“It will still take a few months before I can return to 100%, but I can say that the worst is behind me. The hospital stay was the hardest thing, a real trauma. Burns are a very difficult type of injury to deal with, both physically and psychologically. I am still continuing treatment on my skin, which is long, but I am improving.”

What do you remember about the accident?

“It happened suddenly, while I was having dinner at a friend’s house, shortly after celebrating my 47th birthday on May 8. At one point, the fireplace went out, and unfortunately, a friend, in an attempt to revive the fire, threw a small container of alcohol on it, and that’s when the explosion happened. I only remember the flames on my face, arms, and legs. My wife was not injured, and at that point, I threw myself into the pool. I was transferred from Brasilia to Rio Grande do Sul on May 21, and I remember having difficulty sleeping because of the pain. I had never spent so much time in the hospital, and operations were necessary to remove tissue and special dressings. At this point, I would also like to send a message, if I may. Please. “What happened to me should remind us how important it is to take care of ourselves and others. I experienced something I never could have imagined, but I learned that sometimes it takes very little to avoid tragedy: attention, clarity, simple gestures. Take care of yourselves, protect yourselves: it’s worth it. But luckily now there’s… Inter.“

Exactly, how is the team doing?

”Let’s start with the trauma… Getting over the end of last season is hard, but everything starts from there. The desire to make up for it will be decisive, even thinking back to last year’s ugly defeat at the Stadium.”

What impression does your former teammate Chivu make on you?

“It seems like he’s always been there! To think that 15 years after the Treble, one of us is coaching the team is a source of pride. When I think of him, I remember our great defense, our desire to help each other, which can still be an inspiration today. I think back to that night against Barcelona: we still joke about the bus parked in front of the goal. To cheer me up and break the tension, Cristian told me we would deflate Messi’s ball. And that’s what happened. Now he’ll have to prove his ability and competence on the field, but as a defender, I like his new idea of pressing.”

What is the priority for your former teammate?

“Let’s start with the big names who have stayed: Lautaro and Thuram are unmatched in Italy, although this time with Bremer it will be a tough challenge because they will be up against an extraordinary defender who is changing Juve more than any new signing. Then Calha, even if criticized, is the best playmaker in the league, and the Italians on the team, from Barella to Dimarco, rarely make mistakes. That said, for me, the priority is to fix the defense…“

And how do you do that?

”The addition of an experienced player like Akanji can help a lot. Too many goals conceded for such a strong team is a problem; you have to enjoy marking individually and suffering for the team. If everyone pulls in the same direction, you can have a different season, with a real chance of winning titles. It’s always difficult not to concede goals in Turin, but Inter can do it.“

What do you think of the new Brazilian signing for the Nerazzurri?

”We hope to see him soon… I’ve been following Luis Henrique’s progress in Ligue 1, which is a very physical and fast-paced league: I think he can bring quality and add something important to Inter. A tight game against Juve might need a bit of Brazilian madness and dribbling.”