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Cristiano Ronaldo's signing to Juventus last year was a good move for Serie A and reinforced the impression that the league is reborn, AFP legend Franco Baresi told AFP and the legend of AC Milan.
Baresi, widely regarded as one of the greatest defensemen of all time, said Ronaldo's arrival in Serie A was a clear statement, the Italian championship was once again attracting stars.
Baresi, who has won the European Cup / Champions League three times in 20 years in Milan, added that it was good for European football that Serie A once again become a force.
"Yes, there is a renaissance in Italian football, it is developing again," said Baresi, 58, after attending the "Paris on Football" conference at Stamford Bridge in Chelsea. .
"There is much more interest and the arrival of great footballers like Ronaldo.
"His signature is a very clear and positive signal. Italian football has always been at a high level but is growing again.
"The Italian teams are going well again in Europe, so it's on the rise."
Over the past six seasons, Napoli or Roma have finished second in Serie A, but Baresi believes that only the two Milanese clubs can hope to put an end to the dominance of Juventus, which seems to deserve an eighth consecutive title.
Napoli is still the closest challenger, but is 15 points behind. Inter and AC Milan occupy respectively third and fourth places and Roma.
"Juve has had difficulties over the last seven or eight years, as Milan and Inter have gone through a difficult time with the change of ownership," said Baresi, captain in Milan at the age of 22 years old.
"But these are the only two teams with history, brand, following and structure while the other two lack some of these elements."
"We have hope '
While Baresi was playing for Milan, his older brother, Giuseppe, was a loyal of Inter. When they clashed and it was "a very emotional moment," their parents remained neutral.
He is impressed by how former Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso behaves as a coach of his former club.
"He has gone through a difficult time, but he's doing a good job, he's doing very well," Baresi said.
"The whole team is doing well together, they are all very focused to qualify for the Champions League." Baresi experienced mixed emotions in the World Cup, winning a medal in 1982 without having played a match and missing. the first penalty in a defeat in the Brazil final in 1994.
He says the upsurge in the league has repercussions on the country.
Italy was in shock when his team failed to qualify for the finals of the 2018 World Cup, but Baresi has confidence in Roberto Mancini.
"Mancini has launched a project and has injected into the team of young high quality players, so we have hope," he said.
Baresi, who says Arrigo Sacchi was the best coach in which he played, because he was an innovator, said his current favorite defenders are Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool and Ligt's Matthijs. Ajax, although he hesitates to compare them era.
"It's difficult to make comparisons," he said.
"I love van Dijk and Ligt. They are both very strong and very sporty.
"Liverpool has grown enormously as a team recently, largely thanks to van Dijk.
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