Zinedine Zidane has spoken about his profession with Juventus, his time taking part in with the legendary Alessandro Del Piero, and the night time with Florentino Perez that led to his becoming a member of Actual Madrid in the summertime of 2001.
The legendary former midfielder was one of many visitor audio system on the Pageant dello Sport in Trento over the weekend, together with the likes of Luciano Spalletti, Roberto Mancini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, amongst numerous others.
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Zidane talks Juventus: ‘In France you possibly can get away with dropping away, at Juve, by no means’
24 Mar 2000: Zinedine Zidane of Juventus through the Italian Serie A recreation between Milan and Juventus on the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. The sport completed 2-0 to Milan. Obligatory Credit score: Claudio Villa /Allsport
Zidane stated that he got here to know the true significance of successful after becoming a member of Juventus from Bordeaux in 1996.
“It was stunning. Once I got here from France, the soccer was nice, however not as nice because it was at Juve. I got here to know what successful meant there, the truth that we needed to do it on a regular basis, even away from residence. In France, you possibly can get away with dropping away. At Juve, by no means,” he .
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The 1998 World Cup winner remembers with explicit fondness the non-public relationship he loved with former Juventus chief Gianni Agnelli.
“The factor that impressed me is that after I had recreation, we’d get again at 4 within the morning. He’d name me at six, would converse to me in French and would praise me on my efficiency. These are the kinds of issues that made him a gentleman.”
Among the many finest gamers that Zidane performed with throughout his 5 years with Juventus was membership icon Del Piero.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 05: Alessandro Del Piero appears to be like on alongside The FIFA Membership World Cup Trophy through the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup Draw at Telemundo Studios on December 05, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photograph by Brennan Asplen/Getty Photos)
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“(He was) excellent, one of many strongest you’ve ever had in Italy,” Zidane stated. “I used to be fortunate to have a number of years with him, and plenty of others, too, like Padovano, Vieri, Boksic. Alex had one thing particular, although.”
Zidane was requested why Juventus, at considered one of their strongest factors in historical past, had been unable to win the Champions League within the late mid-to-late Nineties and early 2000s.
“The Champions League is hard, it’s tough to make it to the tip. We made it twice and misplaced in two finals. It is determined by the membership, what it desires to do, as a result of if you wish to win, you have to have plenty of issues in place and have the membership behind it.”
And talking about his resolution to affix Actual Madrid in 2001, Zidane defined that all of it got here right down to a dinner with Florentino Perez.
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“We had been at a gala dinner in Munich. Florentino was there, with 30 or 40 different individuals. He handed me a serviette with phrases written on it, asking if I wished to return to Actual. I believed, both I’m going now, or I’ll keep at Juve perpetually.”