Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, now plying his trade with Fenerbahçe, gave an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, sharing insights on his time at Inter Milan, his emotional connection to Roma, and his thoughts on the current state of Italian football.
When asked about the secret to his enduring success, Dzeko emphasized the importance of dedication and self-care. “Today, coaches don’t look at whether you’re old or young. What matters is the pitch. And I feel I can still make a difference,” he explained. “To achieve this, I’m much more careful now than I was 10 years ago. I eat well, rest well, work before and after training. The real difference is in recovery; it’s slower, it takes me 1-2 days more.”
Reflecting on his most memorable Roma-Inter match, Dzeko recalled his first game against Roma after joining Inter. “The first one after moving to Inter, a 3-0 win and I scored. But not because of that. From the outside, maybe it wasn’t visible, but I had fire inside, I felt the fans of both teams on my side. I was returning to my stadium, the Olimpico is my stadium: a very strong emotion, never experienced before.”
Dzeko’s departure from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023 was a topic of discussion. He shared his perspective on the decision: “If they chose that way, it means everyone agreed, coach and directors. To me, it seemed like a strange decision, because a player who had been a starter in all the important matches, including the Champions League final, you could have kept him for free and had four strikers in the squad. It seemed very strange to me. Over time I understood and respected it, also because Inter treated me very well. It was two important years, certainly that Champions League…”
The Champions League final loss to Manchester City remains a source of regret for Dzeko. “It’s a big regret. Sometimes on Instagram, the action of City’s goal appears, I scroll immediately, I can’t watch. Seeing that match, I mean living it from the inside, I had a strong feeling that we could have made it. And this is what leaves me with a sense of bitterness.”
Dzeko’s time at Roma was marked by near misses in terms of trophies. He reflected on the difference between winning and falling short: “Certainly at Roma I felt it would be more difficult to win compared to what I felt at Inter. About the Scudetto missed in the Nerazzurri, I say that there was a lack of conviction, which came after Istanbul. And then that year we tried to keep both competitions alive, Champions League and championship.”
When asked to compare his partnership with Mohamed Salah at Roma to Inter’s current duo of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, Dzeko diplomatically responded, “Eh… I can’t say that I’m stronger than another, it’s not right… Salah and I had a great feeling, I believe that something of mine also helped him to reach the levels he then demonstrated. The ThuLa? The best in Italy. And Thuram surprised me a lot.”
Dzeko was also asked about Messi’s comments regarding Lautaro and the Ballon d’Or. “Yes. He was decisive for the Scudetto, decisive for the Copa America, it is right that he is among the candidates.”
Dzeko shared his thoughts on various coaches he’s worked with, including José Mourinho and Simone Inzaghi. On Mourinho, he said, “José is a man and a great coach with incredible charisma. Even as an opponent, when he spoke, I was there listening to him. His word has enormous value.”
Regarding Inzaghi, Dzeko praised his ability to involve everyone in the project: “Every year he wins something… You know what? He knows how to involve everyone in the project, even those who are not starters. It’s not easy, especially in locker rooms with great champions. Almost everyone likes him.”
Looking ahead, Dzeko remains focused on his playing career. “I see myself as a player still. Where? Good question… I’m very happy here at Fenerbahçe, it was the right choice. My contract expires at the end of the season, we’ll see if something happens here or somewhere else. For sure I’m not stopping, I can still give a lot.”
As for his post-playing career, Dzeko and his family are considering settling in Italy. “My wife and I have Italy in mind. Rome or Milan, we still have to decide.” Wherever he ends up, Edin Dzeko’s legacy as one of the most consistent and prolific strikers of his generation is already secure.
