Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that teams who put business ahead of the spirit of football are “doomed to fail.” The former Milan boss spoke at length with ll Giornale, speaking first about the decision to sack his former player Paolo Maldini as club director, before turning his attention to the business aspect of football, outlining how Arab nations are trying to use money to attract ‘big’ players in an effort to compete with the top European competitions:
Finance dominates.
“Football clubs that think they are doing business above the spirit of football are doomed to fail. Patronage no longer has the meaning it used to have but business is bad.”
Meanwhile, the Arabs are attracting footballers in exchange for a very high amount of money.
“They have realized that football attracts interest in the population, there is a growing passion, they want to bring their league to the level of European tournaments. They could do it.”
Meanwhile, the Arabs are attracting soccer players in exchange for a very high mount of money.
“They have realized that soccer attracts interest in the population, there is a growing passion, they want to bring their league to the level of European tournaments. They could do it.”
The same project failed in the United States.
“In America the competition from other disciplines, baseball, basketball, football was and is very strong.”
Could Arabia be the new treasure island after Real?
“I am very attached to Europe, I am especially attached to an event that is the Champions League, I won it as a footballer and won it as a coach, this is my place, I still care about it, I stay in Madrid with this commitment.”
One hundred wins, one thousand two hundred and eighty-eight matches on the bench, four thousand press conferences, summary?
“Touring the world has taught me how to live. Italy is the best place but Madrid is the ideal city, London and Paris are great but too challenging, Munich has its beautiful face, Canada is nature and freedom to move around without a pain in the ass. I like to live and not survive.”
For example, Brazil.
“I am happy in Madrid, I have a wonderful relationship with Florentino Perez, life here is magical.”
No nostalgia?
“Of Angela’s tortellini. The fog in Reggiolo? There’s not even that anymore.”
Then there is the family. Something to do will be there after football.
“I’ll have a sea of things to take care of, pay taxes, continue living, especially taking care of the five grandchildren who hammer me like few others. I have suggested to my children, Davide and Katia, that they devote more time to watching movies on TV.”
For the time being, however.
“I’m not quitting and then it’s really hard to find something better than Real.”
