Marco Materazzi thanked Zinedine Zidane for the World Cup, slammed “dishonest” Rafa Benitez and told Mario Balotelli he’s “throwing it away.”
The former Inter and Italy defender spoke to Mediaset Premium Calcio about his career highlights and lowlights – including Zidane’s now iconic headbutt to his chest in the 2006 Final.
“When I lifted the World Cup trophy in Berlin, I could touch the sky. I am indifferent to Zidane’s headbutt. The fact remains that gesture contributed to our victory.”
Marco Materazzi thanked Zinedine Zidane for the World Cup, slammed “dishonest” Rafa Benitez and told Mario Balotelli he’s “throwing it away.”
The former Inter and Italy defender spoke to Mediaset Premium Calcio about his career highlights and lowlights – including Zidane’s now iconic headbutt to his chest in the 2006 Final.
“When I lifted the World Cup trophy in Berlin, I could touch the sky. I am indifferent to Zidane’s headbutt. The fact remains that gesture contributed to our victory.”
Matrix went on to win the Treble with Jose Mourinho at Inter, but famously clashed with replacement Benitez.
“Mourinho, along with Marcello Lippi, is the Coach who made me become a champion. I had already started to play less under Mourinho, but he was always clear with me from the start. Benitez was not. He was dishonest and for him people didn’t matter.”
Materazzi also had problems with Inter teammate Balotelli, reportedly pinning him against the locker room wall after a row, though they later became firm friends.
“I love him like a brother and my great disappointment is that he cannot express his quality. He is throwing away the chance to be a protagonist.
“The opponent who caused me the most trouble was Andriy Shevchenko, though I didn’t give him an easy time either. He was a phenomenon and a lethal striker.”
Materazzi’s greatest regret is tied to May 5 2002, a date that will be familiar to Inter fans. On the final day of the Serie A season, Inter went from first place to third, handing the Scudetto to Juventus thanks to a 4-2 defeat at Lazio.
“In my heart, I felt like I’d been betrayed because two years earlier my Perugia had beaten Juventus on the last day and allowed them to win the Scudetto. Obviously, that was a stupid way of seeing it.
“That is the game I most want to play all over again – and I’d win it.”