“Today my career ends because after you, I can’t have another manager” – Materazzi on Mourinho

While the rest of the footballing world prepares for the month-long festival in South Africa, José Mourinho of Real Madrid CF needs to assemble a side to bring back glory to the Estadio Bernabeu faithful. There have been rumours that Maicon may follow his former manager to Madrid. According to Mourinho, his former players at Inter Milan still maintain a strong allegiance to him.

Inter Milan Players Dedicated to Mourinho

“Credo che i giocatori dell’Inter siano rimasti legati a me perché hanno capito che sono onesto. Zanetti, sull’autobus, mi ha regalato la sua fascia di capitano e, all’interno, c’era una scritta dedicata a me che recitava: ‘Compagno di tante battaglie, insieme siamo diventati campioni d’Europa e vogliamo continuare con te le nostre battaglie’. Quando me l’ha regalata ho vissuto un momento intensissimo. Dopo, fuori dall’autobus, Materazzi mi ha detto: ‘oggi finisce la mia carriera, perché dopo di te non posso avere un altro allenatore’.”
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“I believe that the Inter players have remained tied to me because they understood that I am honest. Javier Zanetti, on the bus, presented me with his captain’s armband. On the inside, there was a saying dedicated to me that said: ‘Comrade of so many battles. Together we are champions of Europe and we want to continue our battles with you.

When he presented this to me, I experienced a very intense moment. Afterward, outside of the bus, Marco Materazzi told me, ‘Today my career ends because after you, I can’t have another manager’.”

– Jose Mourinho

Italian source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 6 June 2010.

Daniele De Rossi: A Potential Transfer Target of Mourinho?

Azzurri midfielder, Daniele De Rossi, grew up in the AS Roma youth ranks and is destined to become their captain when Francesco Totti retires. Can Mourinho lure the talented Roman away from Stadio Olimpico? According to De Rossi, “What will be, will be.”

“Voglio fare un grande Mondiale, a livello individuale e di squadra. Il mercato? Non mi interessa, adesso. E comunque la società ha più volte ribadito che rimarrò alla Roma. E mi fanno piacere le dimostrazioni di affetto dei tifosi. In Italia non giocherò mai con nessun’altra squadra. Il Real Madrid? Se la Roma decidesse per motivi economici di lasciarmi partire io posso anche andare, non si può dire che sarebbe un sacrificio. Quello che sarà, sarà“.

“I want to have a great World Cup on an individual and team level. The transfer market? It doesn’t interest me now. And anyway the club has repeated many times that I will stay at Roma. It makes me glad to have the displays of affection by the fans. In Italy, I will never play for any other team.

Real Madrid? If Roma decided for economic motives to let me depart, I can also go, but you can’t say that it would be a sacrifice. What will be, will be.”

Italian source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 25 May 2010.

Who do you think will follow Mr. Mourinho to Madrid? Would Roma be wise to sell De Rossi if his transfer value increases after an impressive World Cup?

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He writes the World Football Commentaries blog. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Football Media, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.