Former Inter forward Julio Ricardo Cruz discussed the ongoing Coronavirus emergency, star striker Lautaro Martinez and the chances of Lionel Messi joining the Milanese club in an interview in today’s paper edition of the Rome based newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
“I’m having a hard time watching the news, it’s painful. But not even the coronavirus will change my mind, my intention is to return to live in Italy from next year.”
He then discussed Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.
“If he demanded that one of his teammates always take responsibility, it’s easy to imagine that he demands even more from one of his players now. Write that Sinisa is great.”
Cruz spoke about other coaches as well.
“No coach is the same as the other, it’s just great. As for me, Guidolin is really great. If I’ve become an important forward also in Italy, the merit is above all his. I’ll tell you this.”
The 45-year-old Argentinian told a story about Guidolin.
“You should know that Hector Cuper lives in the same building as me. Some time ago he told me, during a barbecue, he praised my performance against Arsenal when he asked me to mark Campbell. We won 3-0 at Highbury and for him the secret of that feat was my great work on the English defender. Do you want to know what I said to him? That the credit went to Guidolin, who from day one taught me how to make life difficult for the defenders.”
He touched on his slow adaption to Italian football.
“When you change the reality, the league, the way you train, it’s never easy. Then there’s a lot of tactics in Italy and it takes time to digest them. I’ll tell you another story.”
Cruz then told a story about Inter star Lautaro Martinez.
“Two years ago, I came to Milan and many people asked my opinion about Lautaro. I told them that he was an extraordinary attacker and that we just had to wait for him. It may have been my impression, but I noticed a bit of skepticism. Anyone who wants a player to come to Italy and make a statement immediately understands little about football. I remind you that a certain Thierry Henry has failed in your country.”
The 45-year-old didn’t think that Barcelona star Lionel Messi would be joining Inter, despite his wishes.
“I’d like him to play for Inter one day, I’d like it also for my friend Massimo Moratti who never hid his desire to take him to Milan. But I tell you the truth, I have a hard time seeing Messi away from Barcelona.”
He spoke about how difficult it is to pass this period without football.
“As a football man, I’m in trouble. With this damn coronavirus it’s like time has stopped and at this point it has to start running again only from the next day.”
Finally, Cruz explained what he meant by ‘the next day’.
“The day after the contagions are gone. The league can resume, I’m rooting for it to resume, but it must do so in total safety, with all possible and imaginable precautions, because health must always be put in front of everything and everyone. It’s true, the football system can go into crisis if the leagues are not finished but football will never die.”
Cruz spent six years of his career with the Nerazzurri. In that time, he made 197 appearances, scoring 75 goals and providing 19 assists. He left the club before the 2009/10 season, missing the Treble winning campaign.