Last season saw Inter end their long wait for a ‘real’ Scudetto, but once again they failed to leave their mark on the Champions League after a stormy night in Valencia. For Luis Figo, in what seems almost certain to be his final year as a professional footballer, this remains his biggest goal. Of course, retaining the Scudetto ranks highly in the Nerazzurri’s objectives for the campaign, but usurping their city rivals as the Kings of Europe is what everyone on the blue and black half of the San Siro is striving to achieve. Unbelievably for a player who has spent much of his career at the very best clubs, he has just one European Cup crown to his name. But standing in his way this term are the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea, Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
What was the biggest factor in your decision to stay on at Inter this year?
I had a big choice to make. I could either retire or stay and play in Europe for one more year, but if I did the latter it would only be to play for Inter. In the end, I couldn’t say no to the President.
Was your bond with Massimo Moratti the deciding factor?
Well, first of all there was the feeling that I could play for one more year at this level. That is important because if I didn’t feel that then I’d quit. And then, of course, was the President. It was his intention that I’d continue with the team this year with the objective of trying to win the Champions League. The fans also played a big part in my decision due to the brilliant way they have treated me in my two years here.
You mention the Champions League being the club’s main objective this season…
It’s like all the big teams in Europe, we’re all trying to win the Champions League because it’s the most important competition at club level. We triumphed in Serie A last term so obviously we’d like to retain that too.
How difficult do you think that could prove to be, given that Juventus are back in Serie A and all of the clubs are starting on zero points this time around?
It was a strange campaign last time with no Juve in the top flight and all of the points deductions. But it was still very difficult for us as we had to put in a lot of hard work to win the championship. Starting eight points behind was tough for Milan, but we didn’t give them any chance to recuperate. This year there are four teams thinking about winning the title and we have to do our best.
Last term you spent a lot of time playing behind the strikers, whereas you spent most of your career before that on the wing – which role suits you the most?
I just prefer to play! I adapt to what the Coach needs. All of my life I’ve played down the flanks, so I have to change my game to attack the space the opposition leaves between defence and midfield. It’s difficult to adjust after playing in the same way for so long, but I think this new role is fine for me.
Are you likely to remain in that position this season?
Well it depends on what the team needs and what the Coach thinks about different games.
One of your former international colleagues has joined you in Serie A this year…
Tiago? I know him well as I played with him a lot with the Portuguese national team. I think he’s made a good choice to sign for Juve. The last few years have been very good for him, as he was winning lots at Chelsea and then also at Lyon. Now that he is in Turin I hope he is not so successful!
And Ricardo Quaresma has been linked with a switch to Inter as your eventual successor – is he the right man for the job?
He is one of the best footballers in Portugal at this moment in time. I think he has the right qualities to be able to play in whatever team he wants, although it all depends on what he feels is best for him. But he’s still at Porto so it’s not a problem for me.
Your Serie A rivals Roma have been drawn to face Manchester United in the group stage. The English side have put a lot of faith in two of your fellow countrymen, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani. What do you make of these flying wingers?
They are certainly the future of the Portuguese national side. I think Nani is a young player with a lot of quality. Everyone knows about Cristiano so it’s easier to speak about him, but I think Nani has the same qualities and he can improve a lot by going to the Premier League with one of the best teams in the world. I think both of them have a great future in the game.
Can Nani be as good as Ronaldo?
Well a lot depends on how he adapts to a new style of football and how he can integrate into his new club, but I think he will succeed as he has the quality to be a great footballer.
Ronaldo suffered a lot of abuse in England after the World Cup, but now he is fighting Kaka and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the Ballon d’Or…
He just thought about playing football, which is what he loves doing. It’s always hard to play with the crowd against you, but if you concentrate on your game and have the quality then you can succeed.
Of course, you suffered similar problems with Barcelona fans at the Nou Camp after your move to Real Madrid…
That was a little bit worse I think! He didn’t have a pig’s head thrown at him and I don’t think any athlete in the world has ever had to cope with an atmosphere like I did that night. But if you can focus on your job, it is a good experience and it strengthens you. What happened at Barcelona made me stronger. It was a very, very hard year for me when I moved to Real Madrid, not just because of that game but all the changes I made in my life. However, at the end, I was very satisfied because Real won the League and I think I was a much better player because of everything I went through.
What is it about Sporting Lisbon – and Portuguese football in general – which makes them keep on bringing through such brilliant players?
I think it’s the mentality and philosophy of the club. Maybe not so much now, but in the past they always produced a lot of talented footballers. And it wasn’t just about getting top players, it was making them good men. They start working on them at a very young age and the development staff do an excellent job as every year there are one or two who stand out as potential players for the senior squad. This is the correct policy as in Portugal the clubs don’t have the money to compete with the biggest teams in Europe so they have to invest in youth development.
Jose Mourinho is one of the world’s best Coaches and he has often stated his desire to join an Italian club in the future. What did you make of him during your time together at Barcelona?
The work he was doing was very good under Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal, which I think was a great experience for him. He would always watch the opposition and analyse them before reporting back to the Coach. Under Van Gaal he started to have more responsibilities on the pitch and then after that he decided it was time for him to make the step up.
Was he always so self-assured?
People change. It’s always different being the assistant Coach, so he probably changed a little bit once he became the boss. But he is doing fantastic things and if you think he is arrogant then you need to ask him that yourself, maybe he has his reasons.
Your former Real Madrid teammate David Beckham was also out of contract in the summer and was a reported target for both Milan clubs, but unlike you he opted out of European football for an MLS adventure…
Well it’s his own decision, so what can you say? I think after he played for Manchester United and Real Madrid – two of the top clubs – he decided on another adventure. You have to respect that.
There was talk of you going over there too. Have you had any offers and is it something you’d consider?
Last year there was interest from New York, but I decided to stay with Inter instead. But after that I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have to concentrate on playing football for now and then when the time gets closer I’ll think about it then.
Do you think Beckham will find it difficult to play at that level and still be able to perform for England?
Well to play over there is much easier, for sure. But then to come back to England to play for the national team could prove difficult. However, it all depends on how he is playing and what Coach Steve McClaren thinks about it. He won’t have any trouble playing in the MLS, but it’s always a problem coming back to play at a much higher level.
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