Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli feels Thiago Motta will be ‘Juventus’ top player’ and reveals what the former midfielder told his Italy teammates after a 1-1 draw against Spain in their EURO 2012 debut.
Motta has been appointed as the new Juventus coach, signing a contract until June 2027.
Prandelli coached the ex-midfielder during his time as Italy’s national team coach, including EURO 2012, where the Azzurri lost in a Final against Spain.
Italy had met La Roja in the group stage, collecting a 1-1 draw.
“At the end of the game, even Italy President Giorgio Napolitano came in the locker room to congratulate us,” Prandelli told Gazzetta.
“Thiago usually didn’t talk much, but he asked to say something at some point. Everyone remained quiet to listen to him. He was very straightforward, saying: ‘You have to realise that we are strong and that we’ll go all the way.’ It is exactly what happened.”