LATEST NEWS FROM AS ROMA – Bruno Conti, Roma’s eternal icon, returns to speak with the passion and lucidity of someone who has lived and loved the Giallorossi club like few others. World champion in 1982 and protagonist of indelible pages in Roma history, Marazico gave a long interview to La Repubblica, analyzing the team’s momentum, future prospects and the impact of Claudio Ranieri’s arrival. Words that confirm his unbreakable bond with Roma and offer interesting insights into the club’s present and future.
Bruno Conti, in a few days will celebrate 70 years. If he closes his eyes, what is the first memory that comes to the surface?
“I have lived more than 50 years of soccer, it is not easy. But the first thought goes to my father, to when I was picked up at Roma in ’74 and this news came to our house: he had made sacrifices to raise seven children, when I told him I was picked up he was not excited. He was taciturn, it’s not that he talked so much, but in his eyes I could see his joy, his satisfaction: his son was going to play for Roma.”
From there to the 1982 World Cup: is it true that you used to make some stornelli, some slightly ironic songs?
“It was with Gianpiero Marini: he played the guitar very well, so Ciccio Graziani and I used to sing on it and they would come up with songs that were a bit strange, you know? You know, the taverns….”
The stornelli in the retreat, outside the press silence.
“We were in Vigo, but we had left Alassio already with a lot of controversy, they were killing Bearzot, they didn’t forgive him for bringing Paolo Rossi after he was disqualified, and then in Pruzzo’s place… There was really this heavy air, already after the first game with Poland, which we had tied. We, to lighten it up, we would have a sing-off.”
And a few cigarettes…
“It’s not nice to say, but I’ve been smoking since I was a kid: we grew up on the street. It used to be different, there were so many soccer players with the habit, it seemed normal. But then, when life presents you with the bill and problems arise at the medical level, which go so much but so much to affect your health, you reconsider….”
Do you happen to be afraid?
“Some things I prefer not to talk about. Out of respect, because there are people whose health is worse than mine.”
Did you smoke a lot?
“It’s not that I consumed two or three packs a day. Others smoked much more than me: the great Zeman, whom I wish all the best. And Walter Sabatini: we used to play together and already smoked, now we both have electronic cigarettes.”
As a young boy he also met his wife Laura.
“At that time I was working in my aunt’s housewares store, bringing gas canisters to the apartments. In the summer, at a bathhouse, I saw her under the umbrella. I found out that Mother really liked Gabriella Ferri, so I started walking around on the beach with a tape player on playing Er barcarolo vaaa…. I tried to go as much as possible in front of that umbrella. Then my future mother-in-law called me, “Ah, pretty boy, come here for a moment.” From there, slowly, I started to stand under the umbrella. Then it was fundamental Rodrigo Placidi who was the left fullback of Anzio: before a training session he introduced her to me and there it all started.”
Is the song The football lever of the class of ’68 dedicated to you or to Di Bartolomei?
“Many people thought it was for me, for that little boy with the number 7 jersey. But, as Francesco De Gregori told me, it was dedicated to Agostino.”
Do you miss him, Di Bartolomei?
“I had met him before I arrived at Roma: a cousin of my wife had invited me to play a game of soccer in Lavinio, near my Nettuno, and he, Bruno Giordano and Stefano Di Chiara were there: I was not in my skin, I had been a Romanista all my life, I was going to play a game together with people who were already Serie A. We met there, then the day I got to the first team he was the first one to welcome me. And then he became my captain, with everything we experienced together: scudetto, Champions Cup final: I really love him.”
The last time you saw him?
“That’s my regret. Shortly before what happened I had organized a game at the sports hall with all the friends of the Scudetto to raise money for a friend who was paralyzed. Augustine also came: he was serene, we laughed, we joked, there was nothing to make us think, he didn’t let us know what he had inside. I was left with that regret.”
He has many friends outside the field as well. One is Venditti.
“He invited me on stage to a concert in Neptune. In my years as youth manager, every time we went to a final, I would put Antonello’s songs on the bus. The first time I called him and his music was underneath, it brought good luck, we won. “Every time you leave, you have to call me,” he told me. This thing we carried on for years.”
You also coached Roma.
“I didn’t coach it, I ferried it. In 2005, on my birthday, I was in Cagliari visiting grandchildren. Rosella Sensi called me. And she told me, “We had a meeting and we thought of you to lead Roma.” I understood what I had to do at that moment. But it was a particular year, we saved ourselves in Bergamo with a goal from Cassano, we were really afraid of relegation. And there is an episode….”
Well, let’s tell the story.
“That year the Pope died and they invited the whole team to the Vatican. We summoned the players to tell them. Cassano intervened: ‘But is it obligatory to come?’ I, already a little angry, replied, “Absolutely not, if you don’t want to come, don’t come.” After a while he goes, “But if I don’t come I wouldn’t want the journalists then….” I can’t tell you what I told him, I spilled it. But with Antonio there is a deep affection, we still love each other soulfully.”
With Mourinho, what was his relationship?
“The first time I saw him I was in Trigoria, I was smoking a cigarette with some employees. José drove by in this little car, a golf car. He saw us, passed us, then recognized me: he came back to hug me, told me he had seen me play in Lisbon. We had a good relationship, even though I was undergoing treatment at that time. When he had four days of disqualification he came to the office:
“Bruno, it would make me very happy if you could be close to the team during this period.” I hear from him often, Ancelotti is a mutual friend.”
Here, Ancelotti: did you ever try to bring him to Roma?
“But how could you take Carlo away from the clubs where he has been? Bayern, Chelsea, Real … of course I made the joke to him, even the last time: ‘You always say you’re from Roma, but when are you coming to coach?’
Will he try again soon?
“Eh, he’s at Real Madrid now, beyond the banter it’s hard to go. Although with Carlo I really have a family relationship. I stayed at his house, with dad, mom, before going to the national team I slept at his place, we were on vacation together. When he had the knee injury, we slept in the same room and I used to lay on top of this swollen knee like this to try to stretch it, to stretch it out. It’s a friendship, a real one.”
Source: The Republic
The article Conti: “My life with Roma, from Ago and Mourinho. And I asked Ancelotti when he is coming…” comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
