Batistuta confessed: "If I leave Fiorentina, there is only one club I would like to join - Manchester United.
Date: Feb 3rd, 2000
Gabriel Batistuta has told Football365 that he would be prepared to quit Fiorentina for Manchester United. In a rare interview, the Argentine striker has confessed that, although he has turned down previous opportunities to come to England, he is attracted by the excitement of the Premiership and the relative privacy enjoyed by players in the UK.
Football365 offered readers a unique chance to put their questions to the Serie A superstar, who talked candidly about life in Italy, Diego Maradona and plans for his own future. And it's those plans that will have Sir Alex Ferguson licking his lips in anticipation.
Batistuta confessed: "If I leave Fiorentina, there is only one club I would like to join - Manchester United. I have had the chance to play in England but at the time it wasn't right for me. But if everything is right, I would play in the Premiership."
Ferguson has had Batigol's name at the top of his wish-list for several seasons and has now been handed the perfect incentive to follow up his interest with a firm offer. Although United's board might need some convincing to broker a big-money deal for a player who turned 31 earlier this week, Sir Fergie would love to bolster his already formidable forward line with a striker widely regarded as the world's best - especially with Andy Cole drifting in and out of favour.
After nine years as the darling of Florence, Batistuta knows time is running out if he is to make his mark in another country, as well as pick up one major pay-day before he retires. And after nearly a decade living life in the goldfish bowl that is Italian football, the chance to escape the intense spotlight that accompanies his every move is clearly appealing.
"I like the fact that you have privacy in England," added Argentina's record goal scorer. "That is not possible in Italy. I think the football is probably more professional in Italy and there is more balance throughout the league, but it does lack the excitement of Premiership football."
THE 365 Q&A: GABRIEL BATISTUTA
The Argentinean Superstar Answers Your Questions
What are the best and worst things about English and Italian football? And who is the toughest defender you've played against?, ask Matt Levy and Konrad Kochanski of London
What do you think is the best league in the world?, asks Jon Lock
Would you ever consider a move to the Premiership or Scotland?, asks Rob
Is there one particular team, be it national or club, that you like scoring against most? And would you like to knock one past England later this month?, asks Simon Downham
Do you think Argentina deserved to beat England in the World Cup in France? Do you believe Sol Campbell's 'goal' should have been allowed? Did Diego Simeone play-act to get David Beckham sent-off?, asks Dan Dearlove
Do you follow Major League Soccer and do you see yourself playing in the American league before you call it quits?, asks Kenya Brown
I was surprised to hear you were overweight as a youngster. Did this stop you gaining recognition when you were younger?, asks George
What do you think about the proposed idea in England of TV companies paying for all replays of players' goals? If this happened in Italy you'd make a mint… asks Liam
You are widely regarded as the best striker in the world, but who do you rate as your closest rivals?, asks Shaggy
Your performances and goals for Fiorentina have convinced me to follow the team, but do you ever regret not moving to a more successful club?, asks David Melvin
How did it feel to play alongside the greatest footballer of all time, Diego Maradona? Was he a huge influence in your development as a player?, asks Lim Kean Fan of Singapore
Do you plan to retire after the 2002 World Cup and do you plan to finish your career in Argentina?, asks Henry Rosendo of Los Angeles, USA
Thanks to Reebok for their help in setting up this interview.
By: Ian Cruise
Source: Football 365
"The English game is very physical but that doesn't make it bad. I like the fact that you have privacy as a player - that's not possible in Italy. I think the football is probably more professional in Italy. There is a gap between the two countries. In Italy, there is more balance throughout the league but it does lack the excitement of Premiership football. As for the best defender I've faced, they are all difficult. Paolo Maldini gives me a hard time at Milan, but I don't ever worry about facing him - or anyone else for that matter."
"I would have to say Serie A. I certainly think the English game is closing the gap, but looking at it overall, Italy is still the place to be. That is why so many young European stars play in the Italian league. It's not just the experience, Italian football teaches you how to live in the right way. Everything is professional. The training, eating, preparation, you can go on and on."
"You can never say never. I have had the chance to play in England but at the time it wasn't right for me. But if I do leave Fiorentina, there is only one club I would like to join, Manchester United. So yes, if everything is right, I would play in the Premiership."
"I don't have any favourites, I just like scoring goals. I love the big games in Europe though and I took a great deal of satisfaction from scoring against Manchester United. In international football, it's always nice to score against our rivals, Brazil. You get special treatment if you do that because it means a lot to the fans. To be honest, scoring against England is no big deal. I won't lose any sleep if I don't. The match doesn't mean as much to us as it does to the English."
"We were a better side than England. I don't think the sending off helped us though, because England dug in and held their ground. Against 11 men we would have won without penalties. As far as the Campbell goal goes, it wasn't a goal! The referee was right to disallow it, you could see the challenge from Shearer was a foul. You would have to ask Simeone if he made a meal of the Beckham challenge. All I would say is it was rather silly to lash out in front of the referee."
"I don't follow the game in the USA at all and I have no intention of going there to play. At some point I would like to play in the English game, but once I call it a day, I will go home to Argentina."
"I don't know whether there was recognition to be had. People make a big deal out of this, when it's only a small thing. I was not that interested in football and when I did become interested, the weight had gone. I get the recognition now, so I can't have too many complaints."
"It's a silly idea and not at all practical. Footballers earn enough without getting paid for the sake of it. I look back on my career and it has brought me a great deal of happiness and has enabled me to enjoy a good life. I'm not a greedy person and I would like to think other players feel the same."
"You always have rivals. I don't tend to take any notice of other players, but I know they are out there. Ronaldo has had his problems with injuries, but on his day he is an exceptional talent. Alessandro del Pierro, at Juventus, is another. In England there is Michael Owen. But questions will be asked of them all later on. Whether they go on to prove themselves is difficult to say."
"It's not good to have regrets. If you look at my career, I have scored a record number of goals for Fiorentina - a goal a game in nine years of Serie A football - and more goals for the national side than Diego Maradona. On a personal level I have won many things. Of course the big prize still eludes me, but that will make it more satisfying when it happens. I could have gone to clubs where I knew I would win honours, but I wanted to be with a team that success would mean more to."
"Maradona was a legend. It wasn't that he gave me any particular help, but his enthusiasm rubbed off. Like many people, I was a fan. But I didn't realise how difficult it must have been to be him. Everything he did was scrutinised. He had no life of his own and I hated that side of it. But what I did like was the gift he had. People have compared me with him, but there is no comparison. Maradona was a one-off, what can you say about him? I still speak to him occasionally, but his life has gone in a strange direction. It's sad to think what has happened to him."
"I'm not sure whether I will finish after the World Cup. On the international front I probably will, but I still think I can play on for another couple of years. I won't finish in Argentina, though. I have always said I would like to try something different in my final years and going to England is something I would consider."