198 quotes found
"I told myself before the game, 'he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else' - but I was wrong."
"My worst vice is gluttony. I try to keep myself under control because I’m an athlete, but once a week I like to pig out and act like a normal person."
"In recent times Italy have been in a World Cup final every 12 years and I hope to still be there in 2018."
"The men can go away, the executives can go away, but what is really though in this society are the players who has been handed down the feel of winning, of being the absolute best, which isn't equal to any other team."
"Speaking of Buffon, I am very surprised that at his age he continues to play without ever failing. It is an example to be inspired by."
"If Rio Ferdinand is worth £120,000 a week, Cannavaro is worth a hundred million a day."
"Fabio being the first player presented has a special symbolic meaning, being that he is true number one with great leadership skills. We are convinced he will be a role model to help build a winning team. Upon arriving in Madrid, Cannavaro's first words demonstrated his pride, happiness, and satisfaction for joining such an admired Club."
"Cannavaro is having a fantastic World Cup. He is without question the strongest defender at this tournament and the absolute number one in the world."
"Fabio Cannavaro was the best player of this World Cup."
"I would have married Fabio anyway, no matter what was his job or where. It doesn't matter that he is a world known footballer. I love him because of his essence as a human being."
"Talking about Fabio's height is the same as talking about the fog in Milan.I have never felt that he is short when I play with him,because he can jump higher than anybody else. He is always good at heading. It doesn't make any sense talking about Cannavaro like that."
"Cannavaro has that unmistakable presence as a leader and in my impression, is exactly like that tough and cool-headed defense he shows on the pitch."
"I can't choose just one! Real Madrid only has great players. Raul, David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo... The one that impressed me the most after having actually played together is Cannavaro. He's sturdy and lithe and his attitude when he faces a match is exceptional too. I think he's the best center-back in the world."
"Del Piero is known for his sense of humour. He once joked that if Lippi does not convoke him to the World Cup in Germany, he would "run him over with his car and sink his damn boat"."
"He is considered to have a strong bond with the Juventus fans, once stating; "I'm proud to be a Juventino, to be a "bandiera", like you define me to be often, in reality I'm just a small part of a big black & white "bandiera" (flag) that grows with the years and if you look closely your name is part of it... To continue making this "bandiera" grow we need everybody: let's stay united.""
"During the Calciopoli scandal: "A true gentleman never leaves his lady.""
"He is a world-class player who needs no introductions."
"Del Piero is the best player in the history of Italian football. He is a person for who I do not only have a lot of respect, but a lot of affection as well."
"He is an exceptional person and really doesn’t need to prove himself to anyone. Del Piero is a wonderful man and player."
"He's the greatest player I've ever played against. He dribbled in an incredible way."
"In my view he’s the best person I’ve met in this sport."
"I believe in champions and Alex is a champion". "Del Piero is a player of very high quality and deserves his record". Because of having many strikers in the squad: "Sometimes I feel embarrassed at putting him on the bench."
"Del Piero is a true genius"
"I've met Ale at the Primavera. And he was already a phenomenon. He was so brave that we forced the coach to make him debut at the main team". "He has those abilities that only great stars have. And everyone, as soon as they saw him, said “This one will surely make it"
"Even though Del Piero may be well into his 30s now, he remains one of the great players."
"With his charm and charisma he has won us all, his creativity and magnificent talent have given us nothing more to ask for, and his free kicks, no comment"
"Del Piero is the best Italian footballer."
""Del Piero is a champion with extraordinary technical ability and wonderful characteristics. When he is selected he never disappoints. He is an example to us all." "He has great skills and intuitions that few other players have". "He is a captain in the real sense of the word"."
"Talking about the best 100 world footballers ever he says "Here he is, he is different from Zidane, he likes to play, he feels it in his soul; between he and the French (Zinedine Zidane), I stay with him.""
"Alex is an example for all of us. He works hard in training without ever speaking out."
"Del Piero is my idol. When I arrived at Juventus and I was introduced to Alex, it was like touching the heavens with my finger"
"Del Piero is able to do certain things, that could seem extraordinary, but he does them like they were simple"
"He (Del Piero) always comes to the training field with a smile for everyone, a comforting word for everyone. This is his greatness: humbleness... he’s a golden person."
"Let’s say he scored a goal a la Baggio, a la Maradona. He took the ball in midfield, dribbled 3-4 teammates of mine. He’s good, what can I say?"
"It’s still surprising to me that Alessandro Del Piero has gone through his career without winning this trophy (the Ballon d'Or)."
"After that, Alessandro Del Piero became my hero, I really admired him."
"Because I grew up playing for Roma and I want to die playing for Roma, because I have always been a Roma's fan!"
"Totti is the best player in the world. He has just been a little unlucky in the past."
"Diego Maradona: Totti is the world's number one."
"Michel Platini: Totti is an artist of football, a true Number 10, just like I was."
"There are many star players in Italy, but the only one I would bring to Bayern Munich would be Totti. I know him well and he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or."
"I liked Francesco straight away. Not only as a player but as a person. He is a phenomenon. A rare player. It seems as if when he was born, the heavenly father said: 'Go down there and play football and that's it.' And he did what he was prescribed to do."
"Totti is the god of football. I saw him play when he was 16 and he was a phenomenon, he knew to do everything: passes, shoots, free kicks, penalties."
"I want to compliment Francesco Totti, scoring 206 goals is a great achievement. It does not matter that he has beat me as he is a great player."
"Gianni Rivera: Totti is better than Baggio and Del Piero, even better than me."
"Francesco Totti has probably been the best player in the last decade. His skills, ability, physical strength and intelligence on the pitch made him a symbol for Roma and the whole of Italian football."
"Totti has the technique of a South American and deserved to win a few more trophies with his Roma team. In fact, he also deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. He is an extraordinary player. In Italy it’s not easy for kids to come up through the youth academy and impose themselves on the first team, but he managed it and became the symbol of Roma. Totti manages to think with his feet and would’ve done great things with my Roma side in 1982-83."
"I have never doubted his ability and you can tell he is a real champion."
"Marcello Lippi: "Totti is the monument of Italian football.""
"Totti is the only current player I would've taken on my 1982 World Cup side."
"For me, he is one of the greatest players I have ever seen."
"Only Gigi Riva could kick the ball like him in Italy. But only with his left foot. Totti can use both feet and can hit the ball in several ways. Such champions can shoot ten times per match and eight of them are aimed on target, while five are very dangerous and can turn into a goal. Totti's shooting qualities are unique and they will stay intact for life."
"Giovanni Trapattoni: "Every player has some genius, but there's only one Van Gogh, and there is nobody like Totti.""
"Dino Zoff: "Totti was without doubt Baggio’s heir. Even then I knew that he had the qualities to be so and his career and his numbers confirm it.""
"Jose Mourinho: You know more than me what Totti means for Roma, for the Serie A, and for his team-mates. I want him to play because he's the best player in the Italian championship in terms of spectacle and quality of play."
"Alex Ferguson: "Of course I know Totti is the fantastic player.""
"Arsene Wenger: "Totti is a top, top class player. He is typical of the Roman game and I’m sure he will never move outside of Roma. He used to play in behind the strikers and then one day they had no central striker so they played him up front and won game after game. He suddenly became the topscorer in Italy as a central striker. That means this guy has absolutely everything. He has a fantastic protection of the ball, he has a quick turn and then he has a very good pass in the final third of the pitch. He can be deadly with every single pass. He will certainly be the most dangerous provider in the final third for them in this game. He is not the only player who can be dangerous but he can open the defence with any pass at any moment of the day if you give him the freedom.""
"Luciano Spalletti: "I agree with Pelé, Totti is the best player in the world.""
"Claudio Ranieri: "Totti is Totti, he is the greatest Italian player and our captain. We will keep him tight. He comes before everything.""
"Carlo Ancelotti: "Totti is a great player who gave so much for Roma and still can give. He is the player who managed the best, especially from the physical point of view, he can remain a very important player to the team.""
"Carlo Mazzone: "Totti? Simply fantastic. I think he is the greatest Roma player of all-time.""
"Cesare Prandelli: "Totti is a great champion.""
"Zdeněk Zeman: "Who are the best five Italian players? Totti, Totti, Totti, Totti, Totti.""
"Roberto Mancini: "Totti is still the number one in Italy and among the first in Europe.""
"Laurent Blanc: "Totti is more than a simple player for Roma. He is outstanding, the team's real standard bearer.""
"Siniša Mihajlović: Totti is a great champion, one of the best players Italy has ever produced, he deserves everything he has earned in the game."
"Pierpaolo Bisoli: "Totti is Totti, a symbol of Italian football.""
"Luiz Felipe Scolari: "Totti is a fantastic player, when you lose a player like him is like losing more than one.""
"Luis Enrique: "He is not only the King of Rome, but of the world. He is unique and it’s a pleasure to have players like Totti in the side.""
"Rudi Garcia: "Francesco is not only a formidable player – a "fuoriclasse" as you say in Italy – but also a man with great qualities outside of football. For me he is one of the very best players in the history of the sport. What I would really love is to win something with him at Roma.""
"Eusebio Di Francesco: "Totti has great football intelligence, experience and seems to have four eyes to spot all potential passes.""
"Totti is someone who can always find the winning moment out of nowhere."
"Roma have the only real world class Italian player left, Francesco Totti."
"Francesco Totti is a champion among the best in the history of Italian football."
"Totti is the greatest player ever to wear Roma jersey."
"Francesco and I grew up together and he is like a little brother to me, My father (Franco Sensi) used to say that he was the son he never had. No-one embodies the spirit of our team better than he does."
"Totti is part of Italy's heritage, in a footballing sense."
"In my opinion he is the most complete player in Italy, followed by De Rossi and Pirlo."
"Florentino Pérez: I spent a lot of money in my life to build a powerful team like Real Madrid, but my desire, I always liked the captain of Roma, Francesco Totti. Unfortunately, it was impossible to reach him because Totti always want to remain with his club and his city."
"Totti is a great player and when he is not there, Roma lose an important resource."
"Above all on the eve of a match like this one, when on the other side, wearing a captain band on his arm, there’s a player like Francesco Totti. If we put together our goals scored, it's over 500. If we sum up the years of career, wearing the same shirt – it comes up to 35. We won the World Cup together and those memories unite us forever""
"Totti is a fantastic player.""
"Totti is always strong, and as a Roman, fights for the team. He makes you feel great, and was a fantastic teammate. He has done a lot of brilliant things for Roma and for the Italian national team. I have always rooted for him."
"Totti is the greatest exponent of the Roman world. He is a player who kids look up to. When the day arrives that he has to retire, it will be hard for Roma and the whole environment there because he is a club emblem."
"When he's in form, Francesco is the best player in the world at his position."
"Totti has written the history of Italian football, with the present and the future. He is a player who can not be doubted."
"Totti is a patron of football, an absolute champion on and off the field. Francesco has only played as a centre forward for four or five years. He was a great Number 10 and playmaker, but now is a pure striker."
"Totti is a great player, one of the last Number 10s remaining in football. The way to play football today has pushed out real Number 10s who make the show. I have a lot of admiration for him, I think he is the best Number 10."
"I would have been honoured to play alongside Totti, as he is one of the best players in history. Any club would’ve been happy to have him in their squad."
"I have a lot of respect for Francesco Totti. When you talk about Roma, you think about Francesco Totti, and when you talk about Francesco Totti, you think about Roma. I’ve had to battle so many times against him. I have maximum respect for him."
"Totti is a 'galactico', He is one of the best players in the world."
"Totti is a legend. He is the symbol of the Giallorossi. Even in Holland, when you talk about Roma, the first name to come up is Totti's. He is considered an extraordinary champion all over the world."
"He is still a great player, He can shoot with either foot and can resolve a game in an instant, even with just a free-kick."
"When I was young I used to watch Italian football matches and my wish was to one day become like Totti."
"Totti is a treasure for Roma, He is the greatest player of all time after Baggio."
"Apart from his indisputable ability as a player, Francesco is a stupendous person. I grew up a lot alongside him and De Rossi. Totti, for me, is an idol. If it wasn’t for him then I wouldn’t be here today. I’m honoured to have known him. Totti is not a problem for Coaches, but for defences."
"I have played with many great footballers in my career and two of them are Gerrard and Totti. Both a great players, loyal and pleasant."
"Totti is a champion, he is untouchable. He can play for many years to come at Roma. It is right to have a mix between younger players and those with experience."
"Except for Francesco Totti, I don’t see any club symbols or any standard bearers in this country. He made a choice to reject all other teams even if they offer more money."
"Totti is very important, on and off the pitch, for what he has won and for his charisma. He’s an example for everyone to follow, for the young players and for players like me who have arrived from abroad. The fact that he has played his football here for so long is proof of that. It’s always nice to watch him train."
"Totti has impressed me most about Roma. He has been, and remains, a very important player, who has spent many years here. The other day he explained that he joined the club in 1989 and is now 35 - he arrived before I was born!"
"Totti is an exceptional teacher, as it’s incredible to be training and playing with him. He is a leader, which I knew, but also different to the others. His football is joy."
"You learn a lot from Totti. He is a player that is part of the club’s history, an idol of the fans. Not mentioning the Argentines, Totti is the player who gives me the most advice. He is one of those who I talk to most. There are no problems with the language, we understand each other."
"Roma are a great side and Francesco Totti, who called to convince me to join, is a great player who I have always admired."
"Pablo Osvaldo, Francesco is unique. He’s not only a phenomenon, he’s actually the best Italian player of all time."
"He is the equivalent to the Pope. People are devoted to him, but Francesco deserves it - he is a leader and is always able to express words of praise for his teammates."
"Can I become a symbol of Fiorentina? I dream of becoming the Viola’s version of Francesco Totti."
"I have so much respect for Francesco Totti. Considering what he represents at Roma, he is the captain of captains."
"I appreciate the presence of a leader like Totti. He is one of the best players in history. I feel lucky to play alongside him."
"Totti is an unattainable champions. It does not take long to realise that he is a real phenomenon for the things that he can do."
"Francesco Totti is a great champion and beyond description. I’m happy to be playing alongside him."
"My idols? I have several. Totti as well is someone I like. It is a pleasure to play against him now."
"I want to become Napoli’s Totti."
"I’d love to be the Francesco Totti of Juventus. I won’t make comparisons on role or history, but I hope to end my career with this jersey."
"Totti is great, at his age he still makes a difference, as Federer. I’d take him everywhere, even to dinner with me. He is really strong. If AS Roma won the Scudetto I would invite Totti for a ride with me."
"No one would have thought that Totti would have a career like this. But even from his debut you could see that he was destined to succeed. I have a great admiration for him. Look at the likes of Giggs, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero – it is hard to believe that anyone can get to 40 years of age and keep playing, but Totti could. He is a boy who loves this city. He could have won more elsewhere, but he loves Rome."
"A jockey does not have to have been a racehorse."
"I perceive the game in a different way. It's a question of viewpoints, of having a wide field of vision. Being able to see the bigger picture."
"I like to think of myself as a director, on the pitch and in life"
"For me, it's always better to keep chasing down the guy in front and maybe finish second, rather than stopping altogether."
"I'm a bit of a wandering gypsy on the pitch. A midfielder constantly on the lookout for an unspoilt corner where I can move freely just for a moment...A space where I can continue to profess my creed: take the ball, give it to a team-mate, team-mate scores. It's called an assist, and it's my way of spreading happiness."
"I strike dead balls alla Pirlo. Each shot bears my name and they're all my children."
"Swearing's my release, and the one weapon I have to defend myself against destiny when it elects to strike without pity."
"If I look in the mirror when I get up, or before going to bed a night, i see a man of average ugliness...But I also see a man who's completely happy with the figure staring back at him. Who's proud of every single second of his past."
"I don't feel pressure. I don't give a toss about it. I spent the afternoon of Sunday, July 9, 2006 in Berlin sleeping and playing the PlayStation. In the evening, I went out and won the World Cup."
"I've got a fair few kilometres under my belt, but it's the short distances that wear me out. They're tests of your mental stamina, rather than your speed. For Neil Armstrong, it was walking on the surface of the moon and, in my case, the ultra-green pitch of the Olympiastadion."
"I thought about quitting after Istanbul because nothing made sense any more...I no longer felt like a man. All of a sudden, football had become the least important thing, precisely because it was the most important: a very painful contradiction. I didn't dare look in the mirror in case my reflection spat back at me. The only possible solution I could think of was to retire."
"There are always lessons to be found in the darkest moments. It's a moral obligation to dig deep and find that little glimmer of hope or pearl of wisdom. You might hit upon an elegant phrase that stays with you and makes the journey that little less bitter. I've tried with Istanbul and haven't managed to get beyond these words: for fuck's sake."
"Ibid [p. 88]"
"Being part of a team that belongs to everyone makes me feel good and at peace with myself. A lot of the time, it's better than sex: it lasts longer and if it all falls flat, it can't just be your fault."
"A ticking timebomb of a madman"
"He says he's slept with 700 women in his time, but he doesn't get picked for Italy any more. Deep down, can he really be happy?"
"He's either playing or he's back at camp. He doesn't do crazy joy, isn't interested in letting his concentration slide. He just can't bear the thought of having left a stone unturned in the quest to win a game. He's also superstitious to a pretty disgusting degree."
"That jackass of a dancer who took the mickey out of us by swaying about on his line"
"Simply put, he crapped. Crapped a hell of a lot. This isn't a bad thing in itself, but the fact he'd do it at the ground, in our dressing room, just before the game, got on our nerves somewhat."
"He must have been the first nuclear-powered South Korean in history"
"He was like an orchestra conductor who'd been assembled upside down, with the baton held by his feet instead of his hands...somebody at Ikea was having a good laugh the day they put him together."
"He's a special kind of medicine, an antidote to the potentially lethal poison of racists you find in Italian grounds."
"His words assault you. They crash through the doors of your mind, often quite violently, and settle deep within you."
"Carlo was like a father and a teacher for me, a kind, friendly man who knew how to make things fun...A big guy with a big personality."
"A Rolex with Swatch batteries. Utterly refined, extremely long lasting."
"He's theatrical and knows exactly what he wants."
"A communist co-op at the heart of a capitalist state."
"When you're in love, it's time you need. When the feeling's gone, having an excuse can help."
"Being a philosopher is to think, seek wisdom and have principles that guide and influence what you do. It's to give meaning to things, find your way in the world, believe that in the end, in every instance, good will overcome evil even if there's a bit of suffering along the way."
"Big name collector cards sell season tickets, but it's the glue they have behind them that wins games. The defence is the most important part of the team: in military terms, success starts in the zone behind the lines."
"Being first on the spot, kicking off that torture in the biggest, most incredible game that a player can play or imagine...that's not necessarily good news. It means that they think you're the best, but it also means that if you miss, you're first on the list of dickheads."
"Tears are a demonstration of who you are; an undeniable truth."
"If God exists, there's no way he's French."
"After the wheel, the PlayStation is the best invention of all time."
"The perfect moment to let your hair down is usually after a triumph, because defeats deserve a different kind of reaction...When you lose, it's all about thinking and reflecting. When you win, burping takes priority."
"Feeling invincible is the first step on the path to the point of no return."
"The best ideas come about in moments of total concentration, a state you can reach when shitting."
"Sometimes a pinch of sadism is the ingredient that makes victory taste that little bit sweeter."
"Many individuals make a team, just as many dreams make a triumph. And if you're really lucky, they make history as well."
"In this life, you're either a man or an actor, there's nothing in between."
"Passing judgement on others is always a lot of fun. Looking inwards is that little bit more difficult."
"After a while, I began to suspect that it wasn't Mark David Chapman who killed John Lennon. It had been one of the Milan directors."
"It's an illness to always want more money when you've already got infinite riches."
"You're forced to tell the media a lot of crap; provided, of course, that they manage to ask you the right question...You read a dull, lifeless script written by press officers with no talent or creative spark."
"Is he best player of his generation? Not quite, but he is the most important."
"Pirlo is a silent leader. He speaks with his feet."
"A player of his level and ability, not to mention that he was free, I think was the signing of the century. [On Sunday] I thought God exists because it's truly embarrassing just how good he is."
"Pirlo is just class!"
"To pass the ball to Pirlo is to hide it in a safe."
"I knew what I had to do and my concentration was perfect. But I was so tired that I tried to hit the ball too hard."
"Penalties are only missed by those who have the courage to take them. (Italian: I rigori li sbaglia solo chi ha il coraggio di tirarli.)"
"I have lost three World Cups, all on penalties. [...] If you'll allow me this, it really gets on my nerves."
"The angels sing in his legs."
"More productive than Maradona; he [Baggio] is without doubt the best number 10 in the league.""
"Baggio. Oh yes, oh yes…oh yes! What a goal by Baggio! That's the goal they’ve all been waiting for!"
"I had the good fortune to have seen [Giuseppe] Meazza, and I thought of him when I saw Baggio play. Baggio has fantasy."
"Roby is a great nine and a half."
"He looks like a wet rabbit."
"Baggio is the greatest little player I've ever seen."
"He has the kind of skill people dream about."
"There's not a team in the world that wouldn't like to have him in their line-up."
"He's without doubt the most skilful number ten in the modern game, the archetypal playmaker, if you like, who can create chances and score goals."
"One games stands out in particular, one against Ancona which we won 5–1. Baggio scored four goals in the first 20 minutes and killed the game off. I don't think I've seen a better performance from any player in any game I've ever played in. For half an hour, he was on fire. As footballers go, he's a genius."
"Roberto Baggio was the best player I ever played against; he made football look very easy."
"Baggio on the bench? It's something that I will never understand in my lifetime."
"Roberto Baggio was the best Italian fantasista; he was better than Meazza and Boniperti, and he was amongst the greatest of all time, right behind Maradona, Pelé, and maybe Cruyff. Without the injury problems and the difficulties with his knees, he would have been the very best player in history."
"I said, ‘No, you have to play striker.’ Baggio went to another club. That year Baggio scored 25 [actually 22] goals – for Bologna! I lost 25 goals! Big mistake."
"One of the greatest ever."
"He's a fantastic guy, he can play football like few others can, without a doubt the best player I've played with."
"I remember when I was six years old and there was only one idol for me: Roberto Baggio."
"(About Antonio Conte) He pays great attention to detail and provides certainty in terms of coverage and exit, which are fundamental for us defenders, especially for those like me who are not particularly nimble on their feet."
"The Sardinians are very similar to us Bergamasques: wary at first, but very sociable afterwards."
"(About his relationship with Fiorentina) I'm afraid you'll have to put up with me. I think this is the right environment for me, in terms of the balance between the type of football played and the right ambitions. Obviously, I think ambitions can grow, but always with the realism that must underpin everything."
"[...] a multilingual dressing room is sometimes useful because tensions can be defused more easily, and different philosophies help to absorb tensions... Let me give you an example: for us Italians, football is all-encompassing, we live it intensely every day of the week. Perhaps those who come from other countries are different from us, and five minutes after the end of the match, they don't even think about it anymore."
"We remembered Astori, on every pitch. And we were moved once again. Why did his death affect us so much? He wasn't a star player, he wasn't a football “superstar”. Nor was he a TV personality. He was just a footballer. In his eyes, we saw passion, loyalty and love for the game. No show of strength, arrogance or conceit. Just dedication to his team and his teammates. And kindness. That's it: kindness. We mourn him because Davide succeeded where we struggle. He managed to remain a man, a father, a husband, a son, a kind footballer. In a world, that of football, where hatred, cunning, money and partisanship reign undisturbed."
"Hello dear Asto, I have rarely expressed my thoughts about a person publicly, because I have always allowed the beauty and uniqueness of relationships, of mutual respect and affection, not to be exploited or thrown to those who do not have the sensitivity to respect certain bonds. In your case, I feel I must make an exception to my rule, because you have a young wife and family members who will be suffering, but above all your little girl deserves to know that her dad was, in every sense, a GOOD PERSON... a GREAT DECENT PERSON... you were the best expression of an ancient, bygone world, in which values such as altruism, elegance, politeness and respect for others reigned supreme. Congratulations, you were one of the best sports figures I have ever come across."
"Ciao Grande Asto, that's what I used to call you when we met, whether it was for a match between our teams or a national team gathering. A genuine smile and a genuine hug, a loyal, honest and humble person. How many times we laughed, joked and rejoiced together. How many chats we had sitting next to each other at the table, or along the corridor leading to the rooms at Coverciano, or on the pitch, and even in the room. “Come on Leo, spread it out like you know how,” you used to say to me every training session during tactics. With that smile that never ended and that showed how good you were inside. You've gone to play up there, and I know you'll always do so with a big smile. The one that always set you apart. You are a great friend of mine. I will miss you."
"Davide means “beloved” in Hebrew, and many kings have had your name. Seeing all your friends here to show their affection for you, I believe that this is truly your name. Davide, you are simple, direct, pragmatic. With your deep gaze, you are able to get inside people and stay there. You are the one who, even without knowing languages well, is able to talk to all of us. You have always spoken from the heart and kept us united. You are the one who scolds the younger ones and keeps the older ones together. You have the gift of the universal language of the heart, a gift given to only a select few. Your parents should know that they did not put a foot wrong with you; you are the son and brother that everyone would want to have if they could choose. You are the best teammate anyone could wish for. We cannot forget your laughter and the way you joked with all of us. You, who liked to call yourself a world-famous designer and footballer in your spare time, are in fact football itself, the pure football of children. Our thoughts today go out to all those closest to you. The task of all those who will remain closest to your daughter will be to tell her who Davide was, a man with a capital M."
"Davide passed away in his sleep, as only true dreamers do."
"He was the captain of Fiorentina. He was a gentle soul, but his role as a defender forced him to be tough. When the 13th minute struck, the number on his shirt, the Franchi stadium fell silent. The world stopped. Applause and everyone stood up."
"O captain, my captain. Why didn't you come down to have breakfast with us all? Why didn't you come to pick up your shoes outside Marco's room and come and drink your usual orange juice? Now they will tell us that life goes on, that we must look ahead and get back on our feet, but what will your absence taste like? Who will arrive every morning in the canteen to warm up the atmosphere with their smile? Who will ask us curiously what we did the night before so we can laugh about it? Who will scold the younger ones and who will hold the more experienced ones accountable? Who will form the circle to play “two touches” or who will drive Marco crazy at the play? With whom will we debate the episodes of “Masterchef”, Florentine restaurants, TV series or football matches? Who will I lean on at lunch after an exhausting training session? Come back, you still have to finish watching “LaLaLand” so you can analyse it like every other newly released film. Come back to Florence, they're waiting for you at the office to renew your contract and recognise the good and positivity you bring to all of us every day. Get out of that damn room, we'll be waiting for you tomorrow when training resumes. In life, there are people you've known forever but will never bond with, and then there are people like Davide who immediately win you over with a simple “Welcome to Florence, Ricky”. Wherever you are now, continue to defend our goal and light the way for us from the back. O captain, my captain. Forever my captain."
"In the reactions that followed, Astori's death above all restored a unique soul to a city that had almost become hostile to itself due to its divisions. [...] Astori succeeded in this crazy alchemy, giving an entire city a single voice to start again. It is not a huge problem for football, but it is for Florence, a city of the world that no longer knows where it belongs, waiting for others to live. Astori told it that it exists anyway. A painful fantasy of which he will undoubtedly be proud, wherever he is now."