Former Inter forward Alvaro Recoba discussed his time with Inter and his relationship with the Nerazzurri fans in an interview with Argentine media outlet Fox Sports Argentina earlier today.
“When I have to return to Italy, people still hold me in high esteem. I spent almost ten years at Inter and the affection for this club is always the same. It was a time when Italian football was really in vogue, when a player who had to go to Europe was thinking first and foremost of Serie A.”
The 44-year-old Uruguayan touched on how Serie A was filled with some of the most exciting players in the world at that time.
“I was lucky enough to be there at that time and to have incredible team-mates and opponents like Crespo, Adriano, Batistuta, Totti, Zidane, Shevchenko, Del Piero. Today Italian football has changed, that was the era in which it was the most popular.”
He discussed why Serie A has fallen behind some of the other top leagues in Europe, like England’s Premier League or Spain’s La Liga.
“There is first of all an economic factor, in England, for example, there are clubs bought by great tycoons, Barcelona is an institution of world football. Pep Guardiola’s team has made a before and after in the history of football. Italy believed itself to be at the centre of the world but now it isn’t anymore, other countries have grown. Then players of international level were no longer born, perhaps Italy lacks a bit of humility. I think they need to ask themselves some questions and understand what’s wrong to return to the football that there was.”
Recoba highlighted how Inter striker Lautaro Martinez may leave to join Barcelona in part due to the higher level of the Spanish league compared to the Italian one.
“Today, leagues like the Spanish and English ones have surpassed the Italian one. I’d rather see a Spanish football match today, although today in Serie A there’s a team like Atalanta that I like the way they play. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of players who can give you magic and excitement. If economically the clubs are not strong, Barcelona or another club can come and take Lautaro away, because the Spanish and English clubs are richer than the Italian ones.”
Finally, Recoba talked about his compatriot, Inter linked forward Edinson Cavani, whose contract is expiring with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this season.
“You have to see if he wants to go back to South America or to stay in Europe. Players like him and Luis Suarez can be as good anywhere, at Barcelona or PSG or at Inter. Then I think a player’s career has gotten longer, today at 33-34 you’re no longer considered an old player. For me they won’t come back, if I had the chance, I’d tell them not to come back.”
Recoba spent 11 years of his career with the Nerazzurri, from 1997 to 2008. In that time, the Uruguayan forward made 261 appearances across all competitions, for a total of 14,343 minutes. In that period, he scored 71 goals and provided 29 assists.
