Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia reveals his approach to being captain, and recalls when he was sought out by Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Ranocchia joined the Nerazzurri ranks in January 2011, but the great expectations surrounding his transfer have somewhat been dulled by irregular performances of both player and team.
Ranocchia nonetheless has risen to become the team's captain this summer and is ready to live up to their remarkable heritage, having very clear ideas as to who his Inter models are.
Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia reveals his approach to being captain, and recalls when he was sought out by Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Ranocchia joined the Nerazzurri ranks in January 2011, but the great expectations surrounding his transfer have somewhat been dulled by irregular performances of both player and team.
Ranocchia nonetheless has risen to become the team's captain this summer and is ready to live up to their remarkable heritage, having very clear ideas as to who his Inter models are.
“Walter Samuel. And above all others Giacinto Facchetti, because I believe in being able to send out positive messages, because you need more characters who can demonstrate an ethical stand within football, and because there exists – and there has to exist – a healthy behaviour on the pitch.
“Respecting your opponent, the referee, the team-mate that maybe covers your ass on the pitch,” Ranocchia reflected to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Some people say that I should burst out precisely there, on the pitch – but they don't realise that everything has changed, that you have 1,000 cameras.
“And do they really think that acting tough with a comrade in front of everyone is the mark of a great player?
“If I want to tell something to Juan Jesus, for example, I wait until the end of the match, I take him by one side and I explain to him how I would have done it.
“I'd never tell him in front of everyone – the stadium and the cameras.
“No, being a good person is the priority – this is what my parents taught me and this is what I will teach to those who choose to listen to me.”
Ranocchia was linked with a number of teams in the past, including Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
“It's true that they [Bayern Munich] probed for me – and for some time, I must admit, I thought about it. But I had made my choice – Inter.”
Galatasaray was being coached by Roberto Mancini when Ranocchia was linked to them last season, but the defender much prefers the current solution.
“You know what I told the Coach when I saw him?” Ranocchia smiled. “Better here in Milan…”