Former Sampdoria and Lazio midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron commented on Argentina’s World Cup win and his memories of Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Veron and Mihajlovic spent four years of their playing careers together, initially for two years at Sampdoria before being reunited for two years with Lazio. The former Serbian defender sadly passed away aged 53 last week following a long battle with leukaemia, leading to an outpouring of support and love from across the footballing world.
Speaking after his Golden Foot Legend Award win, Veron first discussed if he considers himself an example in modern football.
“No, I’ve made my career, played all abroad. I played in an extraordinary moment in Italian football. I am happy with the recognition, to be here, it is an honour to the soul. What I have done, playing football, is the most beautiful thing.”
He gave his thoughts on what Argentina’s World Cup win means to the country.
“What football has, and what politics does not have, is the strength of unity. We can see it in the streets of Buenos Aires, there are no political colours.
“Football has the power to unite, and it is one of the most beautiful things you can see. Extraordinary, a joy to see the cup in Argentina again. I was small in 1986.”
He touched on how Serie A clubs will find the Argentinian players who won the World Cup in Qatar.
“They have all been protagonists, some playing more, some playing less, but all of them, in a month of training camp, leave their mark.
“Serie A will be full of guys, with a great desire to play, world champions. They are boys who will have to open the doors to the champions of the future.”
Finally, Veron remembered his friend Mihajlovic, who sadly passed away earlier this month.
“When I arrived at Sampdoria, I learned a lot by watching and challenging myself with him. There is a lot of sadness, but I want to remember him with a smile, he was always a big brother to me.
“I never argued with him, he always guided me. But with Sinisa on the pitch, the free kicks were all his.”
Veron made 189 appearances in Serie A during his time in Italy, scoring 22 goals and providing 31 assists. He won a number of major honours in the peninsula, including two Scudetti and three Coppa Italia titles.