I remember during my younger years watching Italy’s Serie A and thinking how exciting it was, the glamour, the glitz and the world superstars. I never used to miss the live games on a Sunday afternoon. This was just before the Premier League was launched and before SKY had a stronghold in the game. You could actually watch football live on terrestrial television, I know it sounds like a mythical time, but it was true.
Anyway back to Serie A, there was one particular incident that will always stick in my mind and that involved AC Milan superstar George Weah, who is now a politician in his homeland Liberia. The big centre forward picked the ball up inside his own half and must of beaten six players, ran the length of the pitch before firing past a helpless keeper.
It was moments like that and stars like Weah that made Serie A so attractive to viewers all over the world. I remember the great Milan side of the late eighties/ early nineties with the likes of Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi in defence, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better defence.
Even though the game was more defensive and a bit slower than the game I was accustomed to watching in England the game somehow still mesmerised me. It was due to the great players like the aforementioned Baresi, Maldini and Weah that I fell in love with the Italian game.
Unfortunately for Italian football fans their domestic game has fell in to decline in the past few years. The financial scandals and bungs charges levied against some of the top teams in the country really didn’t help the faltering league. The English Premier League and Spanish La Liga have made massive strides in recent years and I find it hard to see a way back for Serie A.
La Liga and the Premier League are now heralded as the top two football leagues in the world. They both now attract big crowds and big revenue and unfortunately for Italian teams, they now attract bigger stars. During the summer AC Milan lost Brazilian superstar Kaka to Real Madrid of La Liga of course. The playmaker was by far the biggest attraction in the league and the move showed just how bad a state Italian football clubs are in.
People could argue that the Premier League and Manchester United also lost Cristiano Ronaldo to La Liga and Real Madrid. The difference is that Ronaldo has won everything he could at United and moved not just for the wage raise, but also for the fact that he has always dreamed of playing for Real Madrid.
Then we come to Italian teams in the Champions League, Inter the Serie A champions seem to struggle whenever they face any English opposition. In recent seasons they have been knocked out of the Champions League by both Manchester United and Liverpool.
The reason is that they do not have enough quality or strength in-depth to challenge. However they have made a shrewd move in the transfer market this summer by selling hot and cold Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to La Liga’s Barcelona in exchange for hotshot Samuel Eto’o plus £40million.
That move could be a inspired move by Inter boss Jose Mourinho, as the Cameroon international had his best goalscoring season for years in last seasons campaign and he also scored the opening goal in Barca’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Manchester United. Inter have also made a very good signing in Real Madrid star Wesley Sneijder for £13million. The Dutch international could be the creative spark that Mourinho has said his side have lacked in recent season.
Inter are on the up and if they can prove more successful in Europe this season it could prove a great boost for the whole of Serie A. AC Milan are undergoing a fresh start with long term boss Carlo Ancelotti leaving for Premier League Chelsea. His successor is former Milan star Leonardo, the coach is inexperienced and will need a lot of luck on his side if his aging side can come near their bitter city rivals in the race for the Serie A crown.
The next next few years will determine whether Serie A can re-establish itself as one of the top leagues in the world. I would be delighted for the days of glitz and glamour and superstars to return to Serie A. Unfortunately, I think it’s too late for the league i fell in love with those many years ago.
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