Showdown
FUTBINLast week FUTBIN were invited to the Legends Charity Game in Lisbon where we had the chance to sit down and chat with some footballing greats. It was an amazing event where we met a ton of huge names and over €500,000 was raised for their selected charities!
You can still donate to the charities here!
Materazzi:
Bastoni:
“I hope Bastoni stays because I’m an Inter fan. Maybe if he goes to the Premier League, he can be one of the best in the world but right now he is one of the best. He plays for the Italian national team and has played in the Champions League final twice in three seasons. He’s at a high level right now.”
“van Dijk moved to Liverpool and now he’s one of the best in the world so maybe he needs to go out of the country to be seen at that level.”
“Bastoni won the European Championship and I won the World Cup. Maybe he wins another and he becomes better than me.
Donnarumma:
“I can’t understand why Donnarumma left Paris Saint Germain. His contract was expiring and they decided to change the keeper but he’s the best in the world and pep is one of the best managers in the world. For Donnarumma it’s a new challenge but he’s the best goalkeeper in the world.”
Caliofiori:
“He’s one of the biggest defenders for the Italian national team. Last year he suffered a lot of injuries but now he’s fit. The Arsenal style is very good for him. I hope he can be one of the world's best because we believe in him and Bastoni ahead of the World Cup.”
Italy toughens:
“Football has changed since I played. The first idea was to keep the line and now teams fight to play behind. The goalkeeper now has to play with his feet. Football changed quickly.”
Premier league winners
“Chelsea or Liverpool will win the Premier League. Chelsea are the Club World Cup champions and they beat PSG in the final easily. No one expected that. Maresca is Italian and he has done a good job at Chelsea.”
“Liverpool probably will focus on the Champions League because last season they lost on penalties and found Donnarumma in incredible form.”
Serie A
“We have many teams this year. Napoli have one of the best managers in Antonio Conte. They know what they have to do and he knows how to win. They’ve got De Bruyne who is one of the best midfielders in the world and Napoli are above Juventus, Milan and Inter.”
Champions League
“Liverpool because last year they won the group and lost on penalties. They’ve played together a long time and Slot came in after Klopp and won the league. They’re in a good position to win the Champions League.”
World Cup winners
“I hope that Italy of course but we have to reach the World Cup first. I think Argentina now know they’re the Champions and with their squad they feel they can beat everyone. They have Messi and if he’s fit, no one can stop him.”
Henrik Larsson
“I don’t think Sweden should sack Jon Dahl Tomasson. I can’t say he’s done a great job but I think he’s onto something. He just needs to add more balance to the team. It’s not easy but we should give him more time.”
Jorge Andrade
“Portugal have players who have a lot of quality, young players who play in the Premier League along with the old guy Ronaldo, who is our winner to win the World Cup for the first time. The goal is to win the World Cup. The mentality to win is there because they’re winners but we’re just missing winning the trophy. We want to win.”
Mendieta:
Zubimendi and Merino:
“I think both Zubimendi and Merino have been fantastic. Mikel obviously adapted into that new position as a false number nine scoring goals.”
“I think the ability and the quality that he has is incredible and it suits Arsenal very well.”
“The same with Zubimendi, when he got there, he went straight into the team. Straight into doing what he does best, which is managing the tempo and the passing. I think Real Sociedad and Arsenal`s relationship keeps going.”
“Oh, that`s a tough job (to become better than med, ed.). They are different kinds of players. Both of them play different roles. Merino could be like a box-to-box midfielder, where Zubimendi is more a number five or a number six.”
“They are excellent as they are and in the positions that they play.”
Christian Mosquera:
“I think Mosquera is excellent. He was very young at Valencia but already one of the leaders in the defence.”
“He established himself as one of the first choices in the team and he came on the national team.”
“Maybe he thought it would be tough for him to play because the competition in the team was tough, but injuries are a part of football.”
“He took his chance. I think he can be a starter, but he is still very young, which is probably also why Arsenal signed him.”
“I think his projection is magnificent.”
Premier League prediction:
“Liverpool… Manchester City, maybe not. Arsenal could be there. They have been chasing it for a long time now and I think they are getting closer.”
La Liga prediction:
“Barcelona could be the favourites, because they are champions, but Real Madrid of course will always be there as well.”
World Cup prediction:
“Spain. Because we are the best. It is going to be tough, and of course Argentina, Brazil and Germany offer a lot of competition as well.”
“But Spain is one of the favourites for sure.”
Tiago Mendes:
Portugal:
“On the Portugal national team, maybe we have the best generation at the same time ever. We think we have a chance to win the World Cup, but let`s see. It`s football.”
Best player on his position:
“I love the Portuguese guys. Vitinha, João Neves… I think they are amazing to see. These young players reached a high level very early, and Neves is amazing. Reaching this level is amazing.”
“It`s unbelievable really. Lamine Yamal only being 18 and is able to play and be decisive in every game. It`s unbelievable.”
World cup prediction:
“It`s hard to know. Very difficult, but I am between Spain and Portugal. I would love it.”
“I think we have great players in the squad, not only the 11 players but 25 fantastic players, so I hope the coach and the players reach that moment of the season very well to help us win the World Cup for the first time.”
“When you have great players playing in great clubs, they are building up to this sensation that they can win. This builds an atmosphere and the group feel they can win, so I hope it`s our time.”
Ronaldo:
“Ronaldo is amazing. I don`t know if he is the best player in the world, but I think he is the best athlete of all time.”
“It`s difficult to say that when there are a lot of sports. We have Michael Jordan, we have a lot of amazing athletes, but what he is doing at 40 years old, scoring goals for the national team… Every game, he scores goals.”
“It`s amazing what he is doing. Not just what he did, but what he is still doing now. It`s unbelievable.”
Champions League prediction:
“It`s hard to make predictions. Of course, we see Barcelona in this moment and the way it`s too easy for them. PSG are the latest winners and Madrid is always there, but I hope Atletico Madrid can win the Champions League of course.”
