Pavel Nedved says it was his ‘duty’ to follow Juventus into Serie B after the Calciopoli scandal and believes that decision led him to the vice-Presidency.
The former Czech Republic international was one of five players to follow the Bianconeri down a tier after they were relegated on the back of the match-fixing scandal.
In a lengthy interview with Forbes magazine, Nedved also revealed that the €41m transfer fee that took him to Turin from Lazio gave him ‘heavier legs’.
Pavel Nedved says it was his ‘duty’ to follow Juventus into Serie B after the Calciopoli scandal and believes that decision led him to the vice-Presidency.
The former Czech Republic international was one of five players to follow the Bianconeri down a tier after they were relegated on the back of the match-fixing scandal.
In a lengthy interview with Forbes magazine, Nedved also revealed that the €41m transfer fee that took him to Turin from Lazio gave him ‘heavier legs’.
“I guess it’s because of my style of play (that fans loved me),” he explained.
“I always gave 100 per cent and people saw it. They can appreciate it.
“It also helped when I stayed after Juventus were relegated to Serie B. There were five of us. We could have gone anywhere, we had offers but we decided to stay.
“We then became immortal in the eyes of fans. Though, I thought it was only normal. The club was going through tough times and we just gave the club something back. I’m glad we managed to come back to Serie A the very next year.
“Sometimes, you mustn’t think about risking your career and make a decision right from your heart. I have always had everything at Juventus and I wasn’t missing anything. It was our duty to stay in Serie B.
“You must not think only with the calculator stuck inside your head. If you follow your heart you can’t go wrong. If you lose everything, at least you have a good feeling about yourself and this is not a mistake. This is maybe the reason why I am in Juventus’ management.
“I had some talent, of course, but it’s thanks to will and diligence that I succeede. You can’t do it without that.
“I think that 10 per cent is talent and the rest is diligence. For me at least. When you are pursuing your dream, you can do great things and no goals are too much. You have to work for it, though.
“I was always having fun so training was no big crisis for me. Although it’s a fact that sometimes when I had a week off school I wasn’t able to go anywhere on a trip or something because I was the whole day on a pitch.
“I was telling myself sometimes that I would like to live like a normal boy. I did have some experiences outside of the pitch but not many. I had some regrets but when I look back I don’t regret it anymore. Not one bit.
“Yes, football hurts. Sometimes I was sick of it and I was exhausted. I barely managed to walk back home. However, if you want to play football it has to hurt. I was reminded of that also in Lazio by Mr Zeman, whose training was very demanding.
“Yes, I had heavier legs because of the transfer fee at Juventus. I had to prove I was worth it. When they pay this sum you have to somehow repay it. On the other hand it also was a great motivation to prove it wasn’t a mistake.
“Towards the end of my career, I wanted to play at a certain level and I no longer felt that I would be a difference maker. I could no longer be the engine, so Juventus wouldn’t win anything with me.
“And to be somewhere for two years just so I would get paid is not my style. It was better to end it. After all these years I was exhausted so I left the pitch satisfied. I gave it my all so I can have peace of mind.”