Former Roma coach Paulo Fonseca warns Italy about Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo and confirms he called Nicolò Barella to convince him to join Roma.
The Portuguese tactician remained in charge of the Giallorossi for two seasons.
He held talks with Tottenham in the summer and has been linked with the Newcastle job more recently.
“I want a nice project, one team that believes in my ideas. I am free, but it doesn’t mean I want to accept any offer,” Fonseca told Repubblica.
“There have been rumours about some clubs. Some were true, others were just rumours. I prefer a club over a national team, but if the project is serious, I can’t rule anything out.”
Fonseca commented on the potential World Cup play-off final between Italy and Portugal in March.
The Azzurri have been drawn in the same qualification path as Cristiano Ronaldo’s side and the two countries could meet in the Final.
Italy will play the semis against North Macedonia, while Portugal will face Turkey. Both the semifinals and the Final are played on a one-leg basis.
“Fernando Santos is a good coach, we are so grateful to him for winning the Euros in 2016, but sometimes Portugal haven’t played as a team, we haven’t always fought all together,” Fonseca admitted.
“We missed the collective, which made Italy the best team at the Euros. I was convinced they’d win.
Con Paulo #Fonseca avevamo concordato di parlare degli spreggi per i #mondiali2022 La sorte ha voluto che #Italia e #Portogallo siano nello stesso gruppo. Paulo ci ha parlato di #CR7, di #Roma, di quando telefonò a #Barella Su @repubblica ma lo trovate qui https://t.co/CZp9XjbcN4
— Matteo Pinci (@matteopinci) November 27, 2021
“Italy’s technical level is very high. Look at Nicolò Barella. I wanted him at Roma. I called him to convince him to move there. Mancini was able to build a great team. Many teams have talent but are not a team.”
Barella eventually picked Inter over Roma, completing an initial loan move with an obligation to buy from Cagliari in 2018.
“We can’t forget that Cristiano [Ronaldo] is 36,” Fonseca continued.
“He is the best scorer in history, but Portugal is more than just him. He is a terrific finished, but now many young and talented Portuguese players play in the best teams in Europe.”
Ronaldo, a former Juventus star, remains Portugal biggest threat for the Azzurri and former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro explained how Italy can stop the 36-year-old should they meet in March.
Italy and Portugal two great sides but Italy will make it though they win when they need to win there the Kings of defence! Go on the pasta Kings….
“Italy will play the semis against Northern Ireland”
Erm…
Italy won’t beat North Macedonia.
Don ciccio Italy ain’t beating Portugal in Lisbon . That if they even get there
Ronaldo plays these type of matches LIKE SUPERMAN ON STEROID
portugal lost at home to serbia, so they can be beat at home, by anyone. ronaldo is over the hill, he will be easy meat for chiellini., also turkey will give them a go and they will probably be too tired to beat italy,. look at portugal results at euro, not too good, only scored on penalties vs france and lost badly to a poor germany side.
As a Portuguese supporter, we historically never played good ball with you guys, recently a bit better, hopeful we get the right mix, and it clicks. I’m not betting the house lol.
John I wouldn’t be to worried we couldn’t even beat Bulgaria at home so not sure how anyone thinks they can go to Lisbon and win unless they try for penalties but even that we used up all out penalty luck at euro .
I think it is sad that one of these teams will not make it, it is crazy not to have Italy or Portugal in the World Cup. I can’t help thinking that FIFA alway has something up their selves, remember soccer fans, with the pandemic lot of money was lost, and FIFA is all about money not the game. Having Portugal and Italy play is lots and lots of money. I think it is set up for Italy, Portugal has to play Turkey, and Italy N. Macedonia come on that to me is a sure win, Turkey will give Portugal a very hard time, and has more experience in these kind of tournaments. I think this World Cup is going to be tricky, just the fact it is in Qatar, and the time difference for Europe and North America, I hope that FIFA’s plans fail and they make no profit on this one. Forca Sempre Portugal!!!!!
Doha, Qatar is only ahead of Rome by 2 Hours, lol !
Anyways, Fonseca need not worry. Italians always rate Portuguese players high and higher then their own players. If Italy play to Portugal and lose it was not because they didn’t rate them or consider them class players.
In Italy, they rate Argentines the highest. To Italians, Argentine players can do no wrong and are world class footballers the second they come out of the womb. Second, Brazilians. 3rd, Portuguese. 101st Italians.
Also, let me add, that Turkey is not to be overlooked.
This is not the same team that played in Euro 2020. They were the youngest team there but probably had the oldest Manager in Şenol Güneş, Players will be just about 1 year older with a new German Manager with fresh ideas. They embarrassed themselves in Euro 2020 and they know it. They were in 3rd all throughout qualifiers behind Norway. Then the Managerial change and they surged. Turkey are hit or miss. When they are bad, they are downright horrible and you wonder just what they are doing out there. How a nation of 80+ Million cannot have an ounce of tactical and technical ability among them. But once in a while, they come out with some gem of Results with a fanatical fanbase.
They are more patriotic than all of N.Macedonia, Italy, Portugal and they will be out there en masse in Portugal.
At the risk of repeating myself, playing in Lisbon might be easier than playing in Istanbul. Portuguese players are more technical than Turkey, have Ronaldo, and even play with physicality (I see you Pepe !). But I do believe setting up tactically is easier against Portugal than it is against Turkey. For Portugal you already know Ronaldo will NEVER be subbed off. If he gets subbed off and they lose, the Manager will be massacred. He needs to have many touches on the football. Obviously all teams are better with him (I’m a Juve fan afterall) but they play more predictable then Turkey. I’m not a tactical mastermind by any means but you can clearly see how Portugal use Ronaldo as their ‘filter’. Italy and Italian football is more tactically-based than the other 3 teams and I think Mancio, Vialli, Lombardo, Lele Oriali (he’s the tactical guru in the Coaching staff) will get the setup right.
But Portugal have players that are match winners. We do not. Immobile, Belotti (lol), Jorginho are not match winners. Team sport, yes, but it takes one moment by an individual to unlock things out of nothing. Unless Chiesa decides to take 3 players on and go on one of his runs. If Chiesa is feeling it that day, it’s only him that can invent something. If not, we’ll have to rely on grinding it out.
Portugal garbage just like its best player. Ronaldo is a failure and it was proved in Juve and so italy will end his career as the failure he truly is along with the portugal and Ronaldo fans.
That’s untrue and nobody believes that.
Respect, not fear.
Ronaldo is not a failure.
1. Multiple European Champion for his club teams.
2. European Champion for Portugal.
3. Portugal is not a garbage team, but has a number of talented players in addition to Ronaldo.
4. respect, not fear, is correct.