Adani: "I had great team - mates at Inter"

APPIANO GENTILE – Former footballer Daniele Adani was the star of this week's episode of Memorabilia to look back over his spell in a Nerazzurri shirt.

Since retiring, Adani has swapped the football pitch for the commentator's booth: "It's something I do with passion. I try to bring the sensations of being out there on the pitch to the people. It's important to be aware of how you're communicating so that those at home can really understand the game and fall in love with the stars.

"I wasn't an exceptional player," the former centre-half continued, "but I had other qualities and I definitely had intelligence and good game management. I was happy at every club I played for and I always tried to strike up meaningful relationships with coaches and players, understand football and realise what these people wanted to convey."

Before joining Inter in 2002, Adani played for various clubs up and down the Italian peninsula. "I began at Modena's youth academy and then turned out for Brescia, Lazio and Fiorentina. I had a stint at Empoli after Inter and that was also important.

"Football has changed a lot in the last ten or 15 years, but a player with intuition and decent positioning who can deal with loose balls can still cut it, provided they show good reading of the game to cover certain defects. I played at the back because I could sense where to move before anyone else, thus managing to overcome my physical shortcomings."

Inter fans remember Adani in particular for his equalising goal in the Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus in 2003/04.

"That was an emotional goal," he recalled. "I felt it was the right time to advance forward. I was even wearing a shirt dedicated to someone, as if the episode was guided by a higher being.

"Francesco Toldo was an incredibly important person during those years. He's like a brother to me and was a pillar in that side. There were also so many apparently second-rate players who would go on to drive Inter forwards in the years to come. We understood the importance of the shirt. We bore the weight of responsibility in our eyes and hearts, and the people could sense that.

"The strikers are the ones who create the spectacle: they excite the crowds. We had Christian Vieri, Alvaro Recoba, Adriano and Julio Cruz, who was tremendously effective. Inter have always had squads full of quality and depth. It's just a matter of time before you reap the rewards. Sometimes Adriano gave off this impression of being all-powerful: he was powerful, quick, had balance, could head the ball and strike it well. He could lead the line on his own or play with another forward."

Adani also spoke about his love for South America, which was a constant throughout the latter end of his career.

"My passion began when I realised I shared many values with my team-mates at Inter, especially the Argentines or the other South Americans like Ivan Cordoba or Recoba. I always felt at ease with them when sharing memories or emotions. Once I finished my career, it was a natural decision to go and visit Matias Almeyda in Argentina and learn about the competitions there."