🎤 Marco Materazzi Exclusive Interview

Interview - May 2025

Speaking exclusively to OLBG.com, Italian football legend Marco Materazzi says Scott McTominay has had a great season at Napoli, stating he’s not sure “what Manchester United didn’t see in him”, adding “in Manchester, they were wrong again!”

The former Inter Milan defender says he could see both Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish playing at Inter Milan, commenting, “I’d be so happy if Jack Grealish moved from Man City to Inter Milan because he’s a top-class player”.

When asked which Serie A players should make a move to the Premier League, Materazzi says, “Alessandro Bastoni could make that move to the Premier League,” adding, “he’s a Premier League-style defender because he’s strong, fast and technical”.

Materazzi says he’d like to see Liverpool players Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk move to Italy, as Van Dijk is the “best defender in the world”.

Ahead of the Champions League final at the weekend, he says, “Inter now have a 50% chance to be Champions on Saturday.

He’s also tipped the game to finish 1-1 and then go into penalties, saying, “It won’t be easy if it goes to penalties because Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world”.

Marco Matterazzi

Everton, Inter Milan and Italy

What was your time like at Inter Milan?

My time at Inter Milan was intense because we lost the first year of the league in Serie A. The last game was a big mistake for us because I think we deserved that league, but we lost.

After that game, we didn't know if we had a chance to win again. But we finished then after 10 years, with all the teammates who lost that league, winning the treble — Javier Zanetti, Ivan Cordoba, Francesco Toldo and Marco Materazzi.

We went to Madrid for the last game, the last dance for us in the Champions League, and we won. That treble was incredible for us because we deserved that, but we didn't know if we had that opportunity to win initially.

How about the upcoming Champions League final? What are your thoughts on that game?

It will be a tough game, but Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich and Barcelona, who were one of the favourite teams to be champions this year.

In the last three years, Inter have reached the final two times. Inter lost against Man City in the first one, where they played very well and didn’t deserve to lose, but Man City were an incredible team at that time.

I think we now have a 50% chance to be Champions on Saturday, but it won’t be easy because Paris Saint-Germain are also a big team and they are going for the treble.

Inter will have to do more than ever to win the trophy and beat PSG.

If you had to give a score prediction for the Champions League final what would that be?

I think 1-1 and then the game will go into extra time. I hope Inter Milan will be the champions, but it won’t be easy if it goes to penalties because Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Where do you think the game will be decided?

I think the crucial position will be the midfield because Paris Saint-Germain have very good players with the ball.

It will be the same for Inter Milan because Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolò Barella are one of the best three midfielders in the world this season.

So I think the crucial position will be the midfield.

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	Selection	Probability	Odds
1	PSG	61.7%	1.62
2	Inter Milan	43.5%	2.30

You were part of the Treble-winning Inter team in 2010—what made that group special?

That group was fantastic! We were old, you know — 36, 37, 38.

We had lots of big hearts in the locker room, and we created a very good relationship with the manager. We were all family, all friendly, and we thanked everyone for the support.

Do you think if that 2010 Inter Milan team played in this week's Champions League final, you would win the Champions League?

Of course! We had big personalities — I think bigger personalities than this current Inter team.

I think Inter now play better than us, but we had different personalities. You know the names: Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stanković, Thiago Motta, Samuel Eto'o, Diego Milito, Goran Pandev, Esteban Cambiasso, Júlio César. We were a very good team — believe me.

What made Jose Mourinho different from every other coach that you played under? Why was he different?

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When José Mourinho arrived at Inter Milan, we were very afraid of him in the first 10 minutes of training!

But all of that finished when he said, ‘Hey guys, I'm not a monster, I'm your friend. Yes, I'm your manager, but you have to follow me, you have to respect me, the teammates and the staff — but at the end of each training session we are friends and brothers.’

That was fantastic. For the first 10 minutes we were so serious, but after he said that, we were laughing in training! But we trained 100% each day in order to be focused on winning. And we won the treble after two years.

Talk us through that famous clip of you and Jose hugging, saying goodbye, and then crying in the car park after the Champions League victory.

In every training before the final, when I’d go into his locker room and speak face to face, I’d say ‘you need to stay,’ because I believed if he stayed with us, we could win against the best teams in the world and win all cups in Italy.

Maybe the Champions League wouldn’t be easy because there are many details, but I thought we could win many titles if he stayed. But he decided to go to Madrid.

After the game, he was in the car park with me and I was crying because I knew what had happened — and then he started crying too. We had a very good relationship.

I didn’t play many games with him, but he was 100% real with me, and when you have that one real manager, you give him not 100% — but 1000%.

Is it true that you had to teach Mario Balotelli a lesson in training after his performance against Barcelona?

Yes, but Mario Balotelli is like my kid — I love him. We have the same friendly relationship now. He still plays in Genoa.

I’ve never seen a young player at 17 years old like Mario. He was incredible — he could play like he had five years’ experience. Strong, fast, great technique.

But he lost himself on the way because at 17 he won everything. Then he went to Man City, AC Milan, Liverpool… at that moment, he deserved a kick. He deserved my rules.

He wasn’t happy then, but now he remembers me with love. I think I taught him the rules.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic once said that he ‘waited four years to get revenge’ on you with a horrible tackle in the Milan derby. What can you tell us about that clash with Zlatan?

I think what happened on the pitch, finished on the pitch for me. He waited for four years, but we played together.

He said to me every day in training why he didn’t get me in training. Face to face is much better, but he decided after four years he was happy with that. For me, it’s finished. No problem.

How good is coach Simone Inzaghi — do you think he could manage in the Premier League one day?

I think so, yes. I don't know when, but one day he will be a manager in the Premier League, because the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world.

He’s done a very good job at Inter Milan. Now, we talk a lot about Saudi Arabia and many different clubs in the transfer window, and anything can happen.

But Inter are going for the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup right now. I think he has no time to decide right now, but in the future, I think Simone will deserve to manage a Premier League team.

Inter sold Andre Onana to Manchester United for £44 million and then replaced him with Yann Sommer for £6 million — is that one of the best bits of transfer business ever?

No, because Inter Milan know what they are doing. I think one of the best was the swap deal with Zlatan Ibrahimović for Samuel Eto'o.

Inter sold Zlatan for £90 million and got one of the best strikers in the world in return. Samuel Eto’o won the treble with Barcelona and then the treble with us at Inter — two trebles in two years.

It was fantastic. He's still my friend, my brother, and I have to say thank you for what he did for us.

Which Inter Milan players right now do you think would do well in the Premier League?

Inter Milan play great football that is similar to Arsenal's football. I think they could play in the Premier League easily because they have a good mentality.

It’s totally different from the Italian strategy, because we are Italian — we first defend, then attack. But Inter play very well for me and they are one of the best Inter teams I have seen.

Manchester United have been linked a lot with Marcus Thuram — how good could he be for them?

I don't know if that move would happen — Manchester United change a lot every year. They lost the big leader in Sir Alex Ferguson. It’s a shame because Sir Alex is right now the best and the king in Manchester.

They didn't see the history — that was incredible. Manchester cannot finish in 16th position in the Premier League. They reached the Europa League final, but then they lost the final. They have to restart to rebuild everything.

Would a swap deal with Marcus Rashford perhaps suit all parties?

I think Marcus Rashford could play for Inter Milan. You know, this window of the market is very strange because the FIFA Club World Cup is running for 15–20 days, so it's not easy to change the team in that time.

I think the window is after the FIFA Club World Cup — then we will see what's happening in the market.

How good has Scott McTominay been for Napoli this season?

I love him. I hate him because he played for Napoli — you know I’m an Inter fan!

He deserved everything. I laugh because five years ago, when I saw him in Manchester playing with my son, he was incredible. He's a box-to-box midfielder. He scored goals, and I don't know what Manchester United didn’t see in him — he's so good.

It was a brilliant idea by Antonio Conte to pick him up. He scored 12 this season and he was the MVP of Serie A. So in Manchester, they were wrong again!

Was there a lot of surprise in Italy about how cheap he was for them to buy from Manchester United?

It was a surprise what Napoli paid for him because in this era, players are very expensive — and Scott McTominay is a star.

I think his value is £60-70 million, but they paid only £25–30 million. It was a very good job by the Naples management!

Jack Grealish has been linked with Inter Milan in the past — would that be a good move for all involved?

I like Jack Grealish as a player. I don't know what happened this year because he didn’t play much, but he's a top player.

I’d be so happy if Jack Grealish moved from Man City to Inter Milan because he’s a top-class player.

Are there any other players from the UK that you would love to see play in Serie A?

I’d love to see the MVP of the Premier League — Mo Salah — play in Serie A. I would also like to see Virgil van Dijk move over to Serie A because he’s one of the best defenders in the world at the moment — and my idol!

Are there any players in the Italian national team at present who would be suited to the Premier League like you were?

Alessandro Bastoni could make that move to the Premier League. He’s a Premier League-style defender because he’s strong, fast and technical.

The Premier League has totally changed from my era. When I was there, only three or four teams tried to play Tiki-taka — like Arsenal. Now many teams play Tiki-taka!

That is very good for the Premier League because it’s a good atmosphere. I think Pep Guardiola totally changed the mentality of Premier League clubs.

Your time at Everton was short but intense — how do you look back on that period now?

It was fantastic. The Premier League was different then.

I had to go back to Italy because no Italian footballer who played in England could reach the national team, and I had a dream to reach the national team.

So I had to go back. Gianfranco Zola at Chelsea couldn’t get in the national team, Pierluigi Casiraghi couldn’t, and neither could Gianluca Vialli. The national team manager's mentality was different then to what it is now.

Now, if you play in the Premier League, they will pick you immediately because the level is so high.

Who were the best players you played with during your time at Everton?

I have a good friendship with Olivier Dacourt. We played together at Everton and then at Inter Milan — and we won the league together.

Nick Barmby was also one of the best teammates I had at Everton. What a player he was!

What was your favourite memory from your time at Goodison Park?

The people, of course — the fans — because they love the team.

Look at what happened with the last game before they move to the new stadium. Many fans cried — because they love that place.

I loved that place too. And the best memory was when I scored goals against Middlesbrough — we won 4 or 5 — and on the free kick the stadium was amazing. It was incredible.

That is my favourite moment at Everton.

Do you think David Moyes is the man to lead them to compete for Champions League football?

credit: YiAN Kourt / Shutterstock.com

He was one of the best managers at Everton. He left to go to Man United, but it was not easy after Alex Ferguson left.

Because people remember Sir Alex at Man United — it’s not easy to replace him. But David Moyes was one of the best managers after Sir Alex.

He didn’t win anything, but it’s not easy!

Where do you think Everton should look to strengthen this summer? If they could get three new players, where should they look?

This year they started very, very badly, but they finished in a good position.

Now that they’ve built the new stadium, they have to try to build a new team. Everton can imitate Nottingham Forest — they had a good season.

Everton is a good team and a good club. Now they need to take it step by step. As an Everton fan, I would like two, three, four new players — to be in the fight for the top six in the Premier League.

Let's move on now to discuss the iconic 2006 World Cup. Does that World Cup victory still feel real to you?

Yes, that World Cup changed my life and my position in football.

When you win the World Cup and score two goals in the final — one in normal time, and one penalty in the shootout that Italy won — nothing will ever be the same as before.

I remember the two goals. The penalty was incredible because the ball was so heavy! When you go to take the penalty it’s not easy because everything is on your mind — but you have to score.

We were champions and we won the World Cup. And now I’m a grandfather — I look forward to telling my grandchildren about it.

It’s incredible because when you are young, you dream of playing in the World Cup. Then when you play in the World Cup, you dream to reach the final. And then you want to win the final.

We did all of that, and I’m so happy!

When Zinedine Zidane headbutted you, were you expecting that at all? Was it a shock?

I didn't expect that one, but he did it. I think he was in the wrong.

Have you spoken to Zidane since 2006?

Not yet, but for me, there’s no problem.

I'm here, I'm waiting for that moment. But if not — we are not young. We are all 50, 52 years old.

Maybe one day we'll meet again. But for me, it’s no problem.

How much do you think a prime Marco Materazzi would cost in today's game?

£80 to £90 million! I'm joking — but I think £40 to £45 million because Perugia just sold me for £10 million, so right now that’d be about £40 million.

Is there anyone in today's game that reminds you of your playing style? Anyone in particular?

My style was different! But I had a good left foot — in my opinion — and I could do whatever I wanted with it. I was strong and good in the air too.

I think Alessandro Bastoni is similar because he’s tall, plays very well with his left foot, and he’s fast. I wasn’t that fast — but I was smart. I was fast in my mind, and I filled that gap with my brain instead of running, you know?

Do you think Italian defenders are still the best in the world today?

No — for me, the best defenders are the Spanish.

They start playing one-on-one at a young age. Italians have the best team play, but Spain plays the best one-on-one defending.

It’s not easy to defend one-on-one. Spain may concede more goals because of it — but for me, that’s very important for defenders. I love the way Spain plays as a team. I think they are the best.

If you could relive 10 seconds from your career, what moment would that be?

I think when I scored the goal against the Czech Republic — because it was a very important goal in our World Cup.

Without that, we would have had to play against Brazil in the next round — and that would’ve been too tough. Ronaldo, in my opinion, is the best ever player in football.

How about the atmosphere at the grounds that you played in? What was the most intense atmosphere that you experienced?

San Siro Stadium

San Siro. I think in the Champions League semi-final against AC Milan — when we scored the 1-1 with Obafemi Martins — the last five minutes were one of the best atmospheres at San Siro.

That moment was amazing. The San Siro was unbelievable.

Who do you think is the best centre back in the world right now?

Virgil van Dijk. He is the best defender. He’s smart and he’s got good leadership — everything!

Do you think players today are a bit too soft compared to your era?

No, I don't think so. It's the same. The rules are different, but it's the same.

Is there one player that you would never want to face again from when you played?

Original Ronaldo! He is my friend, he respects me — but he was the best.

Is there one player that you wish you played with but you never got to?

Maybe Diego Maradona — but he wasn’t my era.

I think David Beckham — because I like him as a person and a player.

Who gave you the toughest 90 minutes of your career?

This was against Pippo Inzaghi — because it was always 90 minutes under pressure.

Who was the hardest player that you had to play against?

I think Andriy Shevchenko — because he was fast, smart, and a pure goalscorer.

Being brutally honest, do you think that the defending levels right now have dropped since you were playing?

I think we had a better standard of defending than there is now.

I think Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini will never be matched.

What's your favourite shirt that you ever got to wear?

My favourite shirt was Inter, of course.

Dream five-a-side team of players you played with?

Goalkeeper: Júlio César
Defender: Walter Samuel
Defender: Fabio Cannavaro
Midfielder: Dejan Stanković
Striker: R9 Ronaldo
Manager: Jose Mourinho

Ultimate XI — dream 11 players of all time?

Alessandro Nesta, Buffon, Cristian Chivu, Gary Neville, Messi, Paolo Maldini, R9 Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio, Roy Keane, Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane.