Roberto Baggio says Carlo Mazzone is the only coach he felt at ease with and slams TV pundits: ‘I remember some of them were unable to do kick-ups even with their hands.’

The former Italy star, who is regarded as one of the best footballers of all time, revealed why he feels happy to have left football and spoke about his career with Il Venerdì.

Roberto Baggio says Carlo Mazzone is the only coach he felt at ease with and slams TV pundits: ‘I remember some of them were unable to do kick-ups even with their hands.’

The former Italy star, who is regarded as one of the best footballers of all time, revealed why he feels happy to have left football and spoke about his career with Il Venerdì.

Baggio completed one of the most controversial transfers in the history of Italian football in 1990, when he switched Fiorentina with Juventus.

“I am grateful to Florence because they had been waiting for me for two or three years when I was injured," the former striker said.

"I didn’t want to leave Fiorentina, but Pontello had already sold me to Agnelli and if I hadn’t left Fiorentina, Cecchi Gori wouldn’t be able to buy the club."

Baggio was a friend of both Paolo Rossi and Diego Armando Maradona who died in 2020.

“Paolo’s death was unfair. He had a new life outside football and deserved to live longer. You would expect Maradona’s sudden death, but not Paolo’s,” the 54-year-old said. 

Baggio's whole career was controversial too, due to disputes with many of his former coaches and that penalty kick missed in the 1994 World Cup Final.

“I still can’t forgive myself for that penalty kick. I could have killed myself that day, and I wouldn’t feel anything,” he said.

He had a difficult relationship with Arrigo Sacchi who didn’t give him a call-up for Euro 96.

“He wanted to prove tactics are more important than footballers, but he didn’t even reach the quarter-finals.

“I have nothing against coaches, but the only one I felt at ease with is Carletto Mazzone, a free and successful man who was not competing with footballers.”

Baggio has left the world of football and feels happy with it.

“I like women football, while I find golf borning, I prefer basketball and I support Los Angeles Lakers.

“I don’t like to judge the others, I don’t go on TV. I see former colleagues who act as professors, but I remember they couldn’t even do kick-ups with their hands.”

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