“Real Madrid is like grass, if you give it a little water it rises”

Christian Panucci is in Marbella as an ambassador for Word Padel Soccer. What does it consist of?

Because of my friendship with José Bernal we have started talking about this paddle tennis tournament, a sport that paddle tennis veterans really like. From there we started to organize this tournament, which is going to be very nice because we bring veteran players who have been soccer stars in a place as beautiful as Los Granados in Marbella, and in this fantastic place that is the Boho hotel. We are fans of this sport that makes us feel alive. We like to compete and win. We don’t like to lose.

This tournament will be played between June 2 and 4. Can you tell us which players are going to come?

We have confirmed the presence of Francesco Totti, Candelá, who is world champion with France, Nicola Amoruso, former Juventus player, brothers Frank and Ronald de Boer, Dutch stars. We will be about 10 or 12 players. The players will stay at the Boho Hotel. The farewell will be at the Mongli restaurant, which is very nice.

What is of your life?

Two years ago I was as coach of Albania. Now I am taking time to enjoy life. And now I’m doing fine. I want to go back.

How was that experience?

Pretty. It is a very difficult country, particular. Every life experience gives you something. I had a good time, but the results were not very good. It was the most difficult bench after Euro 2016 that Albania played for the first time.

We still remember him for his three seasons at Real Madrid.

Unforgettable memories. We win it all. League, Champions League and world champions. When you are lucky enough to play for a club as important as Real Madrid, it is always a memory that is marked in your heart. I am satisfied to be the first Italian to arrive and the only one to win the Champions League with Real Madrid. It is something professionally very big.

Great players at that stage. Raúl, Suker, Mijatovic…

It was a team of Spaniards and foreigners with a lot of personality, which was the most important thing that squad had. That’s why we won the Seventh. It was a very important Champions League for Real Madrid. It had been 32 years since I won it and we gave the madridistas great joy (it was in 1998 with Mijatovic’s famous goal against Juventus).

Playing with Real Madrid is something different…

It’s like making a movie in Hollywood. It is the best for a football professional. It is the most important club in the world.

What do you think of the more than possible signing of Mbappé for the whites?

I don’t know if he will come. But if he comes at this time he is one of the top three players in the world.

If Real Madrid sign Mbappé…

It will surely improve the template. Without a doubt he will be the best player in the world.

Along with Haaland?

Haaland will become one of the first. He is scoring goals. But I think he still has a lot to prove.

What is your assessment of the current Real Madrid?

Real Madrid is like grass. If you give it a little water it goes up. It’s not an easy time for the world economy, but they’re handling the roster issue very well. They have a great coach (Ancelotti). He is first in the League and they have passed this Champions League tie (against PSG). You can not ask for more.

Capello, for Panucci, is a reference.

He has been the coach of my life in all the teams. He is a very important man for me and we are very good friends. It took him very little time to convince me to come to Real Madrid. I immediately said yes.

With which Real Madrid players do you have the most contacts?

With everyone! Perhaps Mijatovic is the closest friend I have. Also Fernando Sanz. We have a chat where veterans, former Real Madrid soccer players talk a lot and we are always in contact.

In your position, right back, who is the best in the world?

There are few full-backs at the moment. Alexander Arnold, from Liverpool, is young and he is going to have a very important challenge in his career. Hakimi (Achraf) from PSG is very good, much more offensive than defensive, but a good player.

In an interview a couple of years ago, he commented that Real Madrid should not have let go of Achraf and Theo Hernández.

Theo for sure. Because I think that as a left back he is the best of all. There are times when you have to choose and Theo is the best two or three years later.

Analyze the current moment of football in Italy.

We have a low-level football because we are the fourth or fifth European championship. Economic problems, few young players come out… It’s not a very good time and there are no Italian teams left in the Champions League. We have to think hard to be competitive again in Europe.

Italy won the last European Cup. It surprised him?

I was surprised, but he deserved it. Now everything has to be played in the play-off qualifiers for the World Cup. It’s complicated because he has to go to win in Portugal. This is very complicated. In the end, Italian football reaches the World Cups and obtains very good results.

Do you think that Messi is in decline?

I don’t know what is happening to him because he is not playing at his level. You can’t argue with Messi, but he’s not having a very good year.

He was second to Capello in the Russian team.

It was a nice experience because we qualified for the World Cup 12 years later. Then we left and I started training alone. Each went their own way

Well, look how things are in Russia.

When talking about war they are always mistakes. I think it is also a political problem. Politicians did not reach an agreement and have a lot of responsibility in this war. They are the ones who have to negotiate and they have negotiated poorly.

Would you like to train in Spain?

Yessss! I really like where there are many projects. Three years ago I had offers, but I turned them down.

Can you tell who?

That is not said. When you reject above all that is not said.

Wouldn’t it be from Real Madrid?

If I were from Real Madrid I would never have rejected it (laughs).

He has a house in Marbella.

Yes, for 20 years. It has something special. The weather, you eat well, I play paddle tennis, I have friends and it’s a very special place in the world.

Who has been the best player you have played with?

Van Basten. She had it all. What was difficult for me was easy for him. It was also difficult to mark him. Fortunately, the following year I went to play with him.

And the best team?

Our Milan has been the best team in history. The time of Sacchi and Capello had the most important squad in the world and they won everything. Capello has been one of the best coaches in history. He knew how to choose the players and manage them well. The results speak for him. Capello made the team that won the Seventh.