Felipe Melo, the Brazilian midfielder known for his fiery performances both on and off the pitch, recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming Inter-Juventus match and reflected on his career in Italian football. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport from Rio de Janeiro, Melo displayed the same intensity that characterized his playing days in Serie A.
Regarding the upcoming Inter-Juventus match, Melo stated, “The Nerazzurri are the strongest team in the league, but Motta’s Juve is great. Thiago did an enormous job last year at Bologna. It’s a derby and anything can happen, but as an Inter fan, I think we’ll win, also thanks to the home advantage. Juve needs more time, but if they win… they’ll fly.”
When asked about Douglas Luiz’s struggles at Juventus, Melo expressed confidence in the player’s potential: “When he arrived at Juve, he said nice things about me, I thank him. Under my friend Unai Emery, he did very well, but Serie A is tactically too different from the Premier League. In England, Douglas had more space, but I’m sure he’ll do well here too. He has everything. When he better understands Italian football, he’ll become a joy for Juve.”
Melo also addressed his past conflict with Giorgio Chiellini, saying, “Chiellini is a great professional, I arrived at Juve young and often argued with him. He talked about me in his book, but I have 4 children: why should I argue? I haven’t spoken to him since, but we’ll clear things up. However, he’s not my friend.”
On his relationship with ultras, Melo was clear: “Never spoke to them. Only once after a lost derby, but for on-field matters. I’ve never been friends with any of them.”
Reflecting on his career, Melo expressed some regret about leaving Fiorentina: “I could have stayed at Fiorentina. I love Florence, my only daughter was born there. But they sent me to Juve. The chants and banners saying ‘Bastard, Florence doesn’t love you anymore’ hurt me. But everything serves a purpose. At Juve, I had the mentality of a child, I could have done much better.”
As he approaches retirement, Melo shared his future plans: “Yes. Thank you. There’s still a year left, but I’m at peace with myself. I’m 42, I want to follow my children and dedicate myself to other things. What feelings do I have leaving? One: the feeling of having won. The 6-year-old boy who wanted to become a footballer has realized all his dreams. Thanks to all the clubs I’ve played for. Now I’ll become a great coach.”
