In the’summer of 1995 the fingertip that runs along the list of Inter’s purchases takes a long time to get to the bottom of it. The new president, Max Morattiintends to rewrite the club’s ambitions by mixing results and fluidity of play. For this reason he opens his wallet and buys Roberto Carlos, Javier Zanetti, Paul Ince, Maurizio Ganz, Rambert, Benny Carbone, Caio and, in the winter transfer window, even Pistone. The owner would also like Eric Cantona, but for the French ace there is nothing to be done. The first and last purchases will become part of the bone of contention.
Roberto Carlos is young – he is only 22 years old – but in his homeland, at Palmeiras, he has already shown what he is capable of. Coast to coast full-back, terrifying left foot, personality to spare. When he lands in Milan, however, both he and the other signings are greeted with a certain coldness by coach Ottavio Bianchi: “I don’t know South Americans. I train on Sundays, I don’t have time to watch tapes”. Roberto however shrugs his shoulders, also because the feeling with Moratti was immediate: “A cheerful guy, just like me”he says.
It doesn’t take him long to convince the coach that he has to start. Left back, that’s his place. First friendly, against Monza, and an assist. First league match, against Vicenza, and decisive goal from a low free kick. The Coppa Italia match against Venezia arrives and he scores there too. Second round of the championship, against Parma, another goal. The fans are already crazy about him. Moratti is gloating in the stands. Inter, however, is a ship that is sinking.
Roberto scored at Tardini, but a defeat followed. Then a draw in Piacenza and another defeat in Naples. In the meantime, little Lugano knocks the Nerazzurri out of the UEFA Cup. A widespread disaster that costs Bianchi his bench. Suarez acts as a ferryman for a match, then Englishman Roy Hodgson arrives. And here the music changes for both Inter and Roberto Carlos, but in a negative way.
The new coach, in fact, does not see him as a full-back. He thinks he is good at attacking, but that he shows shortcomings in the defensive phase. So, when Pistone arrives in the winter market, the crime is done. The latest arrival plays as a full-back, while the brazilian has to move in front of him, a few meters higher. Hodgson’s perception is wrong. He thinks that by bringing him closer to the opponent’s goal, he will score even more goals. This is not the case, because Roberto Carlos needs to unleash all his horses along the entire flank. Compressed in that portion from the midfield upwards, instead, his sprints are anesthetized.
The result is a downhill end to the season, both for the team – which will finish seventh – and for the Carioca talent. Carlos shows obvious discomfort for weeks and is also sent off during his last match with Inter, a vibrant play-off with Roma to go to the UEFA Cup.
For him it’s enough
like this. If he takes it real Madrid and we all know the rest. However, those 12 months alone, in which the world’s best left back passed through Milan, will remain engraved in the memory of Inter fans.