Inter Milan’s attacking corps on the finish of the Nineteen Nineties had been one thing to behold.
The likes of Ivan Zamorano, Nwankwo Kanu, Roberto Baggio, Nicola Ventola, Adrian Mutu and Alvaro Recoba all loved stints on the San Siro within the run-up to the millennium, however the two greatest names on the books at the moment had been Christian Vieri and Ronaldo.
Vieri moved to Inter for a world file switch price of £32million in 1999, becoming a member of the Brazil legend Ronaldo, who had arrived from Barcelona in 1997, additionally for a then-world file price of £13.2million and was ranked at no.6 in FourFourTwo’s listing of the best gamers of all-time.
Vieri on his Ronaldo partnership
Whereas accidents to the Brazilian meant the pair had been solely capable of share the pitch 11 occasions, it’s clear that O Fenômeno had a big affect on Vieri.
“Ronaldo,” is the Italian’s reply when requested by FourFourTwo who his best-ever team-mate was. “He’s from one other planet, like a present from God. When he was born, God stated, “My good friend, you’re going to turn into the most effective ever.” Within the historical past of soccer, there have been two or three of them. He’s touched by God – I genuinely assume that.
“He was big, with legs like an enormous. He may compete within the 100m. He was extremely fast, which you could possibly see along with his superior stepovers, and he had unbelievable method. I’ve movies about 5 minutes lengthy the place he’s simply nutmegging everybody in video games. If he hadn’t bought injured, he would have gone to such nice heights. You couldn’t cease him – he was too good for everybody. I’ve by no means seen anybody like him.”
However the place does Vieri rank his Ronaldo strike partnership with regards to the best in soccer historical past?
“Once I joined Inter, I keep in mind being within the dressing room as Ronaldo got here in,” he continues. “I stood up, went to him and stated, “I got here right here to play with you.” Sadly, we didn’t get to play a lot collectively.
“Fairly quickly after I arrived, he harm his knee and was out of motion for nearly two years. It was a foul rupture of the tendon – very difficult. When he got here dwelling after his surgical procedure, I went to his home. I used to be in his room whereas he was doing ice and he stated, “Bobo, this time I harm my leg actually badly.” We didn’t know if he would play once more.
“After three or 4 months he was operating, however generally you’d see a chunk of steel popping out of his knee. I used to be like, ‘What the f**ok is that?!’ We needed to wait multiple and a half years, and that’s a very long time. It harm us loads. In one of many first matches after his return, at Brescia, I helped him to attain by setting him up in entrance of purpose with a one-two. We received 3-1 and I additionally bought two targets.
“Two weeks later, we received 3-2 at Piacenza and I scored one other brace – considered one of them, a penalty. I gave the ball to him, as a result of usually he took the penalties. He stated, “No no, Bobo, you are taking it as a result of it’s important to win the highest goalscorer award this yr.” He gave me the ball and I scored. I used to be very grateful. We had a extremely good relationship, like finest associates. We’d exit to eating places in Milan. As we went in, the entire individuals would stand up and applaud. I assumed, ‘What the f**ok. Are we The Beatles right here?!’ It was loopy.”
