Diamanti: Turned down Juve after Conte’s words, Mourinho unaware of me | OneFootball

The former National Team playmaker shares his story from Australia, where he coaches the youth teams of Melbourne City: from the missed move to Inter wanted by Moratti to the rejected offer from Juventus, up to memories of Pirlo, Balotelli, and his idol Roberto Baggio.

Alessandro Diamanti: “Conte said things I didn’t like, I turned down Juve. Mourinho didn’t know who I was”

Alessandro “Alino” Diamanti was one of the most recognizable footballers in Italian football. His left foot, creativity, and personality made him a fan favorite, even though he never wore the jersey of a “big” club in our league. Today he lives in Australia, where he coaches the youth teams of Melbourne City, and continues to speak openly about his experiences: “I never chased money, I played for the people. The love of the fans is worth more than a hundred trophies.”

The missed opportunities with Inter and Juventus

Diamanti clearly remembers the moments when he was close to joining a top club: “In 2009 Moratti wanted me at Inter. He called me and I thought it was a joke: ‘You’re the new Recoba, you have to play for us.’ Then Mourinho arrived, they told him about me and he said: ‘Diamanti who?’. He wanted another name.”

Not only Inter, but also Juventus and Napoli showed interest in him. But when the call from the Bianconeri came, something didn’t go as planned: “Juve came looking for me later, with many national teammates pushing for my transfer. But Conte said some things I didn’t like and I refused. I still slept well that night, just to be clear. I was impulsive, maybe too much, but I would make that choice again.”

The move to West Ham and the return to Italy

In the end, it was West Ham that convinced him. A dramatic negotiation, as the former playmaker recalls: “Spinelli didn’t want to sell me. We got to the last day of the transfer window and he changed his mind every half hour. In the end, I signed at midnight.”

Despite a positive experience in the Premier League, Diamanti left London to return to Italy: “It was a mistake to leave England, but I did it for the National Team. Lippi told me that to have a chance I had to play in Italy. So I went to Brescia.”

The journey with the National Team and Euro 2012

The choice paid off: Diamanti became a key player for the Azzurri and helped take Italy all the way to the Euro 2012 final. “I owe a lot to Prandelli, he made my dream come true. Even though he didn’t take me to the World Cup, I never held a grudge. I’ve always just followed my own beliefs.”

Pirlo, Balotelli and other great teammates

His story is filled with memories of his strongest teammates:

“Pirlo was a genius. You could give him the ball however you wanted, he’d return it perfectly. We played 50 matches together, in 48 he was the best on the pitch.”

“Balotelli at Euro 2012 was in the world’s top 3. Goalkeepers didn’t save his shots, they protected themselves from them.”

And about free kicks, there’s no doubt: “With Pirlo it was impossible to compete. He scored from every position. Once I hit the crossbar, and he told me: ‘I told you you wouldn’t score…’”

The idol: Roberto Baggio

A special chapter is reserved for Roberto Baggio: “He was my absolute idol. I tried to imitate him in everything: the shoes, the captain’s armband. In Bologna I met him by chance and hugged him for two minutes. Before I go back to Australia, I’ll go say goodbye to him.”

Today in Australia, with no regrets

After experiences in China as well, Diamanti has found his place in Australia: “Australia reflects my personality: free, passionate, with a special energy. I never chased money. I played for the people.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.