The former Brazilian midfielder: “Mourinho wanted me at Inter as early as 2009, but Fiorentina sent me to Turin. I want to be a coach”

Felipe Melo was afraid only once. At 15, in Brazil, he found himself face to face with a tall, tattooed drug dealer. “Every now and then I hung out in those kinds of circles. One day this man took me aside, looked at me with eyes I’ve never forgotten, and said that if he saw me hanging around there again, he’d shoot me. ‘You have a future in soccer; I don’t want to see you here anymore.’ I listened to him. Now I don’t know what became of him; I think he’s dead.” Felipe Melo is his usual self, a river in full flood. He breaks the banks talking about Inter, Juve, his future as a coach, and his past.

If you hadn’t become a soccer player, what would you have done?

“Maybe I would have ended up in a bad crowd; I thank my parents. My dad was a factory worker, my mom a housewife. I grew up fighting my way through life and its difficulties.”

After all, they call you Pitbull.

“A nickname I’ve loved. People only remember me for the bad fouls, but I’ve always had talent. At the 2010 World Cup, I made the best assist of the entire tournament: the one to Robinho against the Netherlands, where I was sent off. A twenty-meter through ball that put him right in front of the goal…”

Juve vs. Inter, his match.

“Good memories. I played nearly a hundred games for Juve, but I was young and immature. I made dozens of mistakes and paid for every single one.”

What kind?

“Once I lost the ball, the crowd booed, and I told them all to go to hell. When I got home, my wife scolded me. I was just a kid: I argued with everyone, talked back, was grumpy and on edge. I even had a falling out with Chiellini, as is well known. We’ve made peace now: we greeted each other warmly at the Club World Cup. Infantino was there too. He’s brilliant: he’s changing soccer, and I respect him.”

Inter wanted you as early as 2009.

“Yes, but Corvino told me, ‘You’re going to Turin, or you’re going to Turin. You have no other choice.’ The Bianconeri paid the €25 million buyout clause and included Marchionni in the deal. Florence didn’t take it well; they criticized me a lot: my first daughter was born there, and I loved the Franchi and the city.”

There’s no point asking him which team he roots for.

“Inter is in my heart. At home, I still have the front page of Sports Prediction from after I scored against Verona, when I went to kiss my wife. It was 2015; it says ‘a kiss to seal the deal.’ When Mancini asked me to come, I didn’t hesitate; I’m sorry I didn’t stay longer.“

If he were to come face-to-face with Frank de Boer, what would he say to him?

”He’s never understood a thing about soccer; he’s not capable. He even spoke badly of Gabigol, calling him ‘Gabi-ex-gol.’ He didn’t speak Italian; he got on everyone’s nerves in the locker room. In fact, he lasted three months and then caused disasters everywhere. Thank God Pioli arrived that year.“

Is the new Inter convincing you?

”They could have done more at the World Cup, but it’s understandable. Chivu just arrived and is trying to chart a new course after four years of Inzaghi—and thus set patterns. I like Sucic; I think he can become a game-changer, and I’m also a huge fan of Pio Esposito and Dumfries. It’s a golden period for him: the ball hits him and goes in.“

Is Lautaro Martinez among the top five strikers in the world?

”No… he’s among the top three! In 2024, at the Ballon d’Or, he would have deserved much more than seventh place.“

Who is the favorite to win the title?

”Inter is the strongest, but Napoli has quality.“

The indispensable player for the Bianconeri?

”Bremer. Last year, he was missed like the air we breathe.“

And for Inter?

”Calhanoglu: he’s still the mastermind.“

A player you’d have gone to great lengths for?

”Calhanoglu and Yildiz. The way the Turkish player touches the ball drives me wild. I would have fought for him until the very end.“

A few months ago you said: ”In 2026 you’ll see me on the bench: I hope to coach in Serie A.“ What is your vision of soccer?

”I want brave, quality players. If you don’t stick your leg in for a tackle, you don’t play. I was a great player; I say that with confidence. I tackled hard and scored goals: there were few midfielders like that. As I always say, with Felipe on the field it could be tough, but without Felipe it was even tougher.”