Bagni: “If you play for Naples, you can't be afraid”

Salvatore bagni (Correggio, September 25, 1956), is a Naples legend, with which he won his first scudetto, in 1987. Maradona's great friend, they nicknamed him 'the Warrior': he was the idol of Rino Gattuso, who was always inspired by him.

-Salvatore, do you think Naples is hopeful?

-Barcelona is one of the best teams in the world and has the best player in the world. However, we must analyze the moment, and Napoli with the arrival of Gattuso has once again become a team that knows what it wants. The Catalans, after the break, did not seem invincible to me. For me there is no favorite: azzurri they deserved to win in the first leg.

– Setién will go out with the trident …

– Well, Griezmann has disappointed there, while he lets me think about the return of Suárez, an exceptional player. But there is no fear: those of us who play for Naples cannot have it.

– What have you liked about Gattuso in these months?

– Rino is spoken only for his charisma, but tactically he is terrific. The triumph in the Cup came thanks to him, he played similar games against Lazio, Inter and Juve: closing spaces and hitting quickly. The team has now grown in both phases. And the players, when they talk to him, they know who is in front of them.

– You were his idol: as a child he had his poster on the wall.

– Yes, he told me that he fought with his parents, who were from Milan, and played like I did, with his half down (laugh). He liked the way I was in the field, without fear. He said he was inspired by me, now I am the one who is inspired by him.

– In the midfield azzurro Today Fabian is in charge.

– It's great, but this year has not had its usual continuity, that has happened to several azzurri. He will stay here for another year and will continue to grow.

– Continuity, in Naples, is synonymous with José Maria Callejón. Today may be his last Neapolitan match.

– I don't know what will happen, after seven years it's normal to think about it. You can't tell this boy anything. Continuity, goals, assists, seriousness, silence …

– And not an injury in seven years.

– Well, I can boast that too. And they really hit uslaugh).

– How much does the presence of Insigne influence?

– With all my respect for others, Insigne is 30, 40% of Naples. He has become an example in the field: he sacrifices himself, as I like him. A real captain, and being a Neapolitan is worth double. I think he will play, whatever it takes.

– Speaking of captains: you arrived in Naples in 1984 together with Maradona.

– I met Diego as soon as I arrived, we were friends right away and we continue to be. He was always humble and available like almost no one in football. If in those seven years we won so much, it was thanks to him. We have seen it now: in the De Laurentiis era the scudetto several times, but something else was always missing. The closer you get, the more difficult it is.

– What do you remember about the first scudetto?

– Even if another ten arrive, the joy that the first one, expected for 60 years, gave will be incomparable. It is difficult to describe what it was. Every time I return to Naples, I still feel the love and gratitude of that day, which has been transmitted from one generation to another.

– Why did Diego leave Barça?

– Too many arguments and fights, he felt that a stage had finished. Diego chose Naples and did not think twice, although he had everything to lose in a team under construction that had never won anything. And he did it when he was 24 years old, in the best moment of his career. It was the biggest. Who would imagine Messi doing that?

– Do you see Leo in Italy in the future?

– It is not impossible. It makes no sense to leave at the age of 33 after a lifetime at Barça to play for a team that you don't know and that will ask you a lot. He's been having a problem there lately, that's for sure. But it won't go away.

– How do you explain the difficulties of this Barça?

– After so many years winning everything is absolutely normal. The key men start to be of an age, the legs change and the relay, at these levels, is never easy. Playing for Barça is very complicated. This year they suffered, but they can fix it by winning the Champions League. I obviously hope they fall in the eighths (laugh).

– We imagine Maradona agrees.

– Without any doubt, you will be watching the game with the shirt azzurra. He doesn't even need to put it on: he has it inside.