Brighton full back Ezequiel Schelotto discussed his career and time at Inter in an interview with Italian journalist Nicolò Schira on Instagram today. His words were noted by Italian media outlet FcInterNews.
“They gave me my nickname after my audition at the Banfield youth academy. I was 12 years old, as soon as I picked up the ball I ran like crazy, overtaking two or three players and they told me I was a greyhound, a galgo in Spanish.”
The 30-year-old discussed the ongoing Coronavirus emergency.
“I am spending the quarantine in England with my wife Gisela and daughter Isabela. In negativity I have fun with my daughter, we play together, she runs everywhere. She’s faster than me now. In my spare time I love to cook, I like to make asado barbecues. I’m a normal person and in housework I like to give my wife a hand.”
He touched on the best player he has ever played alongside.
“I’d say Antonio Cassano. I had him at Inter and Parma. An exceptional technical quality. I’ve seen him do incredible things and he made me score a lot of goals. Antonio always said to me, ‘Galgo, you don’t have to worry about the ball, you just have to run and then I’ll get you the ball’. He played the ball where it flew like in a Milan-Parma when we won 4-2 at the San Siro. He had a crazy game reading, no look assists. Cassano was incredible and he helped me a lot in the first months at Inter, I can’t tell you the laughs he gave me. One joke after another.”
He then revealed who his toughest opponent was.
“Andrea Pirlo, impressive his talent. A great player that had an extraordinary vision of the game. He found his teammates with his eyes closed, great class that made all the fans fall in love.”
Schelotto discussed his time under coach Diego Simeone at Catania.
“I had Cholo in Catania as a coach, a great coach. He was very young but you could see at the time that he would become an important coach. A tough, tough man who gave me a lot. He would be perfect in a few years’ time for the Argentine national team.”
The Brighton full back spoke about his time with the Nerazzurri.
“I played at Atalanta, but how could I say no to a great team like Inter? I still remember the excitement of the first days in the locker room with those champions. People like Zanetti, Cambiasso, Milito, Stankovic who had won the Treble and me, a 23-year-old, who had never played at the highest level. I didn’t feel pressure, unfortunately I had little room. In 4 months, it becomes difficult to make a difference, especially in a team that has problems and struggles with results. Then in the summer there was the change of club and coach that changed my destiny. It’s a shame because I had a good relationship with Stramaccioni. The perfect night was the derby. First ball touched and a goal. I still remember President Moratti at the end of the game who congratulated me and told me that I would stay in Inter history for that goal. I tattooed the date of the derby goal on my right arm (24 February 2013). It was the most important goal of my career, there isn’t a day that some Inter fan doesn’t tell me that.”
He spoke about Inter’s current coach, Antonio Conte.
“In addition to Inter, Juve also wanted me in January 2013. Conte liked me a lot, but the pressure of my fellow Nerazzurri Italians made the difference.”
Schelotto spoke about Inter legend Javier Zanetti.
“An extraordinary person, I wish him the best. He was one of my points of reference. Playing together was a pride. I’ve known him since 2010, after the Treble with Cesena we scored a promotion and he sent me a message of congratulations. It was crazy that he thought of a boy who played in Serie C. In 2012 he was disqualified and so he sent me his autographed jersey at the hotel, since we couldn’t exchange it on the field. His presence was fundamental in making me choose Inter.”
He spoke about his change from Inter to Chievo Verona.
“All summer long I wanted to stay in Verona. A city where I felt good, I played as a starter and there were all the prerequisites to stay. Inter and Chievo were negotiating a Zukanovic-Schelotto exchange, but after weeks of meetings the deal was off. My biggest regret is that I had to cancel the deal with Inter even though I still had another two years on the contract. I was misguided by those who represented me at the time. I’ve regretted it many times. Even if I wasn’t part of the plan I should have resisted, maybe I would have had a chance.”
The 30-year-old discussed all the football shirts he currently owns.
“I have all mine from every season plus those of Zanetti, Totti, Cassano, Ibra, Ronaldinho, Kakà. Cristiano? I don’t have Ronaldo’s, a good reason to come back.”
The Brighton full back spoke about Inter captain Samir Handanovic.
“He was very strong, never a word out of place. No wonder the career he had and the captain’s armband at Inter. He deserves it.”
Finally, Schelotto gave a starting eleven of the best players he has ever played with in his career.
“Handanovic in goal, me on the right and Zanetti on the left. Central defenders, Walter Samuel and Coates. Cambiasso, Parolo and Cigarini in midfield but Stankovic deserves it too. We had a big fight in an Inter-Atalanta game, but then we became great friends. In front, Cassano on the left, with a striker like Bas Dost even if Denis, Milito and Maxi were great too. To complete the trident Giaccherini.”
