Ricardo - La Trivela | OneFootball

The secret weapon for the Champions League, which in the end actually went on to win the Champions League. At the turn of the millennium, there was a wave of players associated with a single signature trick on the pitch. In South America in particular, there was an entire tradition of players with a secret move, as if they were special moves unlocked on the PlayStation. There was Andrés D’Alessandro, with the Boba, a particular feint with which he would wrong-foot defenders from a standing start. There was Kerlon, who was also seen around these parts, nicknamed Foquinha because he would stick the ball to his forehead before setting off on a run. Inevitably, some thug would soon come along and earn himself a yellow card for bringing him down.

There was Mexican player Cuauhtémoc Blanco, whose signature move was the frog jump: an extraordinarily improbable leap with the ball held between both ankles. And then there was the trivela, a technique using the outside of the foot while imparting a particular trajectory to the ball, as if it had been struck with the inside of the opposite foot. And the trivela was Ricardo Quaresma.

José Mourinho, on his arrival, expressed the utmost respect for Roberto Mancini’s football. At Inter, Mancini had failed to bring the Champions League home, but had nevertheless won three Scudetti and two Coppa Italia trophies in four years. “Roberto is a great manager,” said Mou, dedicating the Italian Super Cup he won with Roma, thanks to a Zanetti penalty, to him, “but I am a different manager and I think differently.” Put into tactical terms: out went the 4-4-2 and 4-3-1-2, the formations on which Mancini had built his own era, and in came a very modern 4-3-3, like the one he had used at Chelsea. There, Drogba played through the middle, with two beasts in Robben and Duff out wide. And here? Well, the centre-forward was an easy choice. Zlatan Ibrahimović. Not enough? The squad could also call upon Julio Cruz and Hernán Crespo, two Argentine centre-forwards in case one wasn’t enough. Oh, and then there’s Adriano, in case you’re not familiar with him. And, if necessary, Mario Balotelli, the rising star. Five options for the centre-forward position, all of this level, perhaps something that had never been seen before. Perfect, and out wide? Well, there’s Luis Figo, 36 years old but still going strong. There’s Amantino Mancini, who arrived from Roma. There’s also Obinna, a youngster returning from Chievo. And, when needed, Mario Balotelli, who doesn’t like running but can cut inside from the wing and curl a shot towards goal. Not enough; one final push in the transfer market was needed. In the dying moments of the August transfer window, Ricardo Quaresma arrived from Porto. Official nickname: Ricky Carisma. Well. Unofficial nickname: the trivela, the way he surprises opponents. His debut was dazzling: he even scored against Catania, albeit with a deflection off Mascara. The attempt may have been a cross. The part of his body with which he had struck the ball? The outside of his foot. Trivela officially certified. Exactly eighteen years ago. Things did not work out after that, however, partly because, like all intelligent people, Mou realised he needed to make changes quickly. Bye-bye, trident; back to the good old 4-3-1-2. The wide players in the squad paid the price. Ricardo went to Chelsea on loan in January, but failed to shine there either. He had to return to Milan. In the meantime, however, Inter had blossomed: the glorious 2009/10 season had begun, and Quaresma managed to earn himself some playing time. He played 13 matches, including a couple of starts. He came on twice in the Champions League, against Rubin at home and away to Barcelona in the group stage. Thirty-four minutes in total: enough to earn himself a place in the Madrid photograph. Next to Júlio César, sporting some highly improbable braids. The trivela is a European champion.