Marchisio: “Messi must decide on the final phase of his career, not Barça”

Just over a year ago Claudio Marchisio decided to hang up his boots at just 33 years old after a career full of successes and dedicated almost entirely to Juventus, with which he added 389 games and 15 titles. He was nicknamed the 'Principino' for his elegance on and off the pitch and now he is a successful businessman, he comments on the matches of the Italian team in the 'Rai', although he does not rule out returning to work for a football team. In his conversation with 'AS' he spoke of the match between Juve and Barça, the moment of football and his memories.

– Claudio, how are you living away from the grass?

– Well, now I am dedicated to continuing the activities that I had started in previous years, and with Chiellini we founded the communication and marketing agency ‘Mate’, for athletes and companies.

– We have seen him in the ‘Rai’ commenting on the Nazionale.

– Yes, I wanted it because the injuries interrupted my relationship with the Azzurra and, also, to disengage a bit from the clubs. In such a difficult moment, unity is needed and that is what the National Team gives us.

– Will he go back to football?

– I retired when I was young, although that depends: there are some who play until they are 36-37 years old and who should stop because they no longer hold certain rhythms. My body did not respond to what the head was telling it and I did not want to downgrade, giving up my goals. All this allows me to have time to look around me, study … A future as a manager, perhaps, is the path I could take.

– His former teammate Pirlo suddenly became a Juve coach.

– Starting like this is a huge responsibility, he knows it. It needs time, and this is also a rare course, without preseason and with absences due to the covid. It is not easy to find a balance on and off the pitch, and the same thing happens to many great European players.

– How have you seen Cristiano de bianconero in these months?

– Simply fundamental, their numbers show. And his absence in recent games has been quite noticeable.

– Was such a strong impact expected from Morata?

– Álvaro has grown up, returning here much more aware of his strength. Juve has chosen him as the starting point and he will need his goals, which have already begun to arrive.

– Do you see possible the trident with CR7, Morata and Dybala?

– It is the one I prefer, although Pirlo must seek a general balance. Now, the most important thing is to find an identity.

– What do you think of what happened at Barcelona last year?

– I was shocked, it was an earthquake on and off the field. They too must find a balance again. In the end, the teams arrive at the meeting with a similar problem, but the value of their players is undeniable and, therefore, I hope we will see a great game.

– Barça gave you a dislike in the 2015 final, in which you started.

– Yes, it was a very different team. We knew its strength, but also our growth. Arriving at that appointment was extraordinary and I think we had many chances to win the game.

– It was his second great final lost after Euro2012 against Spain.

– The 4-0 was too much, in the group stage we showed that we could make them suffer. It started badly because of Chiellini's injury and the goal conceded right away, then we were left with 10 for having finished the changes …

– And in Cardiff, against Madrid, there was no luck either.

– There we lost control when trying to come back, we could not bear the blow that the white club gave us when they came forward again.

– Returning to Barça: do you think it is good that Messi has stayed?

– Clear. However, if after so many years there is an internal problem, it would be fair not to take it out to destabilize the group. More than Barça, Messi must decide on the final phase of his wonderful career.

– You stated that you also had offers to leave Juve, Inter and Real Madrid.

– Yes, when I was very young, in 2006. Capello went from Juve to Madrid and I could have gone there. Even if a player manages to play in the team of his loves, it is obvious that the interest of a great club stays in your head. Each of us, however, has his goals and feelings and decides based on them.

– The future Barça could pass through the feet of Ansu Fati and Pedri.

– I like them a lot, and what I appreciate about Barça is their ability to bet on new talents. It's something that I see a lot in Spain, Luis Enrique himself did it with the National Team. For many years in Italy it was not like that, now we are changing.

– Both in the Azzurra and in Serie A, you no longer see 'catenaccio'.

– The tactics are still working a lot, but above all to put the rival in trouble. I am thinking of Atalanta, or also Juric's Verona, who did it in the last match with Juve. Rather than lock themselves in their area, teams now try to defend by being aggressive. The game here has evolved.