Davide Ballardini is “grateful” to Maurizio Zamparini and discusses “crafty” Massimo Cellino.
The Coach was sacked by Palermo earlier this season, and is one of seven men to sit on the Rosanero bench.
The 52-year-old has also worked with Cellino, who was Cagliari President before leaving to take over Leeds United, and he discussed the two notoriously trigger-happy Presidents.
“I’m grateful to Cellino, he took me to Serie A,” Ballardini told Calciomercato.
Davide Ballardini is “grateful” to Maurizio Zamparini and discusses “crafty” Massimo Cellino.
The Coach was sacked by Palermo earlier this season, and is one of seven men to sit on the Rosanero bench.
The 52-year-old has also worked with Cellino, who was Cagliari President before leaving to take over Leeds United, and he discussed the two notoriously trigger-happy Presidents.
“I’m grateful to Cellino, he took me to Serie A,” Ballardini told Calciomercato.
“He’s an intelligent person, shrewd and crafty. He knows how to do his job, even if I probably don’t agree with his methods in terms of how he acts and relates to people.
“He’s shrewd and capable, but I never shared his approach.
“Because he meddled in my work? Not because of that, but the way he acted in daily life, the way he relates to people.
“He didn’t have much respect for the people he was meeting. I come from the countryside where you have to respect people, their role and their opinion.
“Zamparini? Palermo called me three times, but the third time I decided not to accept a return. I was pleased though, obviously Presidents like my personality and my work.
“Even this last time, Zamparini sought me out but then we couldn’t agree. I’m grateful to the President.
“He had already called me – I think after the Sassuolo game – before he decided to bring [Beppe] Iachini back. I’m deeply grateful to Zamparini.
“Things didn’t end well, but I have respect for him as a person. We couldn’t agree on the basics, we no longer shared a technical project.
“Did he offer more tactical suggestions than Cellino? Actually they both want to give them, Cellino just plays it a bit more shrewdly than Zamparini.
“Which President knows the most about football? I’d say Cellino or [Genoa’s Enrico] Preziosi. [Lazio’s Claudio] Lotito leaves the technical part to the sporting director and the Coach.
“Zamparini is less coherent in technical discourse and human relations.”