The former midfielder: “One wrong pass, and Mancio went crazy. I answered back, and he went to Mantovani. Simoni tried to take me to Napoli, and it was a mistake not to follow him. People still stop me about the penalty miss in Juve-Toro…“

For many, Riccardo Maspero is ”the one with the miss.“ A clever move that became legendary, giving Torino an unexpected 3-3 draw in the 2001 derby. ”I had also scored, so losing would have been a double blow. Luckily, it turned out well.” He tells his story without filters, digging into his memory of pain and great victories. “When we won at Wembley with Cremonese,” but also arguments and misunderstandings. “I argued with Mancio, and in hindsight, I can say I was wrong not to trust Simoni. He wanted to take me to Naples, but I chose to stay in Cremona to keep my word.”

Maspero, let’s start from the beginning. You were born into a family of sportsmen: has soccer been part of your life since you were a child?

“Yes, that’s right. My dad was a soccer player, he played in the Piacenza youth team, but he didn’t make it. Let’s say I also fulfilled his dream. I remember his tears on the day of my debut in Serie A.“

Today, his sons also play.

”One plays for Pro Sesto, the other for Alessandria. I appreciate their tenacity in wanting to achieve a goal. They remind me of myself as a boy.”

Was there a moment when you realized you had made it?

“In Cremona. Because the important thing is not to make your debut, but to be able to stay at the top level. We had a close-knit group at Cremo. We were a family. Favalli was an incredible sporting director, he bought well and sold very well, always keeping our team spirit intact. Even the new players integrated immediately. Believe me, it was something magical.“

But you left.

”I wanted to make a leap in quality. Eriksson called me and said, ‘I want you on the team.’ It was impossible to say no.”

At Sampdoria, we didn’t see the Maspero of Cremona. What went wrong?

“I was a bit penalized by the formation. Then the following year they signed Seedorf and Karembeu, and I chose to leave. However, I have some memorable memories, such as the Cup Winners’ Cup semifinal against Arsenal. It was an incredible ride. I also formed many bonds that year, one in particular…”

With whom?

“Ruud Gullit. We spent a lot of time together. He was already a star, I was a young guy in his first year at a big club. To go out together, he had to dress up, and every time it was a spectacle. I have many flashes of a fantastic guy: at dinner he would make you laugh, in the locker room he would play music. Then he would step onto the field and transform.“

It was said that you left because of a dispute with Mancini.

”Let’s just say that Roberto had a lot of power at Sampdoria. Eriksson listened to him a lot, and my role as a second striker was a bit cumbersome. We never argued, except once. If I may…”

Tell us about it.

“Even in training, he was very demanding. Once, I passed him a bad ball and he went crazy. I answered back and we argued. I have nothing against him, but I know he pushed for my transfer. And to think that only a year earlier, he had been the one to suggest to Mantovani and the coach that they sign me…” .

You’ve had many great coaches in your career. Choose one.

“I’d say Simoni, but I don’t want to be unfair to anyone. Gigi was like a second father to me. I made a mistake not following him to Naples: it was 1996 and he was pushing hard to get me. He put me up at his house for two days to try to convince me. However, I chose to stay in Cremona because the season was underway and I had given my word to the president and Favalli that I would help the team in difficulty. I didn’t want to abandon ship in a storm; it’s not in my nature. My wife still holds it against me; she would have liked me to go.”

Then you ended up in Turin.

“For a handful of games. Because Simoni was sacked almost immediately. Even that, however, was a fantastic interlude. Everyone remembers me for the ‘hole’ in the derby, but they were three very good years.”

Yes, the hole. Do they still stop you in the street?

“Yes, it happens that people only remember me for that. Actually, I’m very happy with my career. The one in the derby was a clever move: it was 3-3, I had just scored the equalizer, and they gave us a penalty. So I went there and ‘dug’. Salas didn’t notice and kicked into the hole. The ball went sky high. Juve fans still hold it against me.”

You were about to end up at Juventus years earlier…

“It’s true, Favalli was in frequent contact with the Bianconeri and told me that there was this possibility. However, I decided to go to Sampdoria.”

The best moment?

” I have many, but I’ll choose the victory at Wembley with Cremonese: we beat Derby County to win the Anglo-Italian Cup. Scoring in a stadium like that is something you carry with you forever.“

Any regrets?

”I achieved less than I deserved. I was penalized a bit by the formations and some choices.”

Before retiring, you spent eight years in the amateur leagues.

“I chose to stay in Bergamo with my wife, who has a business in the area. I was reborn. After Florence, I had lost my passion for playing, but those years gave it back to me.”

Today, you are a coach.

“At the moment, I’m not working, but I’m waiting for an opportunity. For years, I didn’t follow soccer. I went to work in the company, and I have to say that I liked it. Now we’ll see. Maybe I’m paying the price for not being very media-friendly. It was the same when I was a player. I never liked being in the spotlight.”