The former goalkeeper recounts: “I was ill, the club covered it up. At Genoa, we had the worst coach I’ve ever seen. He humiliated us and hated Italians. I risked dying, but divine intervention saved me.”

Federico Marchetti has always been guided by his faith. Between the posts, as well as in his life choices. He fell, he recovered, he fell again, and he got back up again. Today he is happy, aware of the path he has taken. “I don’t regret anything, except those negotiations with Milan… I would have liked to play for a big club.” But the former goalkeeper is not the type to look back. He defeated depression, darkness, and the fear of never seeing the light again. Faith intervened there too, which was fundamental in helping him overcome his struggles and ward off every ghost. “I had lost myself, I couldn’t even dive anymore.”

Federico Marchetti, let’s start here. Faith has always been part of your life.

“I could give you many examples of how it saved me, but I want to mention one. When I was twenty, I was in the car with two teammates and a truck invaded our lane. I saw death in the face. Then there was a flash and we were saved… It was divine intervention. We were surrounded by flames, but unharmed.“

Ten years later, you went through a difficult period. Was faith important in helping you get through that too?

”Absolutely fundamental. I was depressed, I’m not ashamed to say it. I had lost myself, I couldn’t even dive between the posts anymore.“

Is it true that you refused to take the field?

”I was unwell, I wasn’t in the right state of mind to take the field. I told the goalkeeper coach, ‘I don’t feel up to it.’ He didn’t understand. I was playing for Lazio and the club covered it up: they just said I was injured. In reality, I needed support, not to be left alone. Depression is an illness, it needs to be treated seriously.“

Let’s start with Cagliari. Your relationship with Cellino was complicated…

”I was subjected to disguised mobbing. I trained with the first team, but I was never called up. I came back from the World Cup in South Africa, where I made two appearances, and I was blamed for saying that I would like to play in the Champions League. That’s all. From then on, a never-ending war began. Just think, I showed up in court wearing a purple suit to annoy Cellino: his eyes were wide open.”

Were there any negotiations that summer? You were still the goalkeeper for the Italian national team.

“Many teams wanted me, yes. During the World Cup, there were talks with Sampdoria, then Roma and Milan. Allegri, with whom I have an excellent relationship, wanted to take me with him. But you know… the president rejected every offer, so it was difficult to make a move.”

After a year in the stands, Lazio bought you. With the Biancocelesti, you won the derby in the Coppa Italia final. What memories do you have?

“Magical ones. Even today, I still meet people on the street who stop me and tell their children, ‘He was the goalkeeper in the 2013 final. We became immortal with that victory.“

Even at Lazio, after many successful seasons, you lost your place and ended up out of the squad. Was it also Marchetti’s fault?

”Well, honestly, no. Rome is a complicated place; you make one mistake and they crucify you. I remember the comments: ‘Now he’s depressed again’. Then there were rumors about me going out at night and having particular vices: all lies. But I understand that someone who uses cocaine gets more clicks than someone who is depressed.“

The tears under the north stand, however, tell of a true bond.

”Of course, Rome is my home. I still live there. Those tears were a necessary gesture, even though I was wearing another jersey at the time. It was the first time I had returned to the Olimpico. The Rossoblù fans didn’t take it well, they called me a Lazio fan.“

In 2018, you ended up at Genoa. Was that a mistake?

”Just think, I was supposed to go to Napoli to replace Meret. Instead, I went to Genoa and never played. Ridiculous management by questionable characters…“

Are you referring to Blessin, in particular?

”You’ve already read what I think on Instagram. He’s the worst coach I’ve ever seen. He treated us like s*** and humiliated us constantly, even individually.”

Tell us more.

“He would pick on players and insult them. He hated Italians. Calafiori was his favorite target, calling him an ‘Italian bastard’. He picked on me, Criscito, and Behrami. In fact, it’s no coincidence that Pandev chose to accept Parma in Serie B just to get away.”

Did he take it out on him too?

“Does it seem normal to you that a guy who has won everything in Italy and Europe ends up shooting with the kids at the end of training? Blessin humiliated him constantly. He left before he laid his hands on him.”

Do you have any regrets?

“Yes, I missed out on a big club. Even though I’m happy with the path I’ve taken. I was sorry for Genoa, it was a very poorly handled situation…”

Even without playing for a big club, you still managed to earn a permanent spot on the national team. You participated in a World Cup, a Confederations Cup, and a European Championship.
“Yes, I just have to thank Lippi, Prandelli, and Conte for their trust. Of course, it must be said that for many I was always ‘the guy from Cagliari’. Even after the World Cup, the criticism was that I played for a minor team. If I had been the goalkeeper for Milan, it would have been a different story.”