Gabriel Batistuta: Maradona v Messi + My part in Diego’s Demise

0:00Are you really buying a car online on AutoTrader right now? Really. I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget. You can really have it delivered. Or pick it up. Mommy, look! I think your kid is walking up the slide. Really? AutoTrader. Buy your car online. Really? Did you think about football like you blame football a little bit? Resent football or was you okay with it? No, no. I blame myself. Okay. Yeah. It's all about me. Baty goal, Gabriel Batistuta, one of the most devastating strikers world football has ever seen. You look at me, you are... Dead. Dead. If you look at the ball, you are dead too.

0:40He broke and held some amazing goalscoring records, surpassed only recently by Lionel Messi. Messi scored 1 ,000 goals, Maradona scored 200. Messi is a quiet boy, Maradona wasn't. Maradona was at least the top. But how many people truly understand what made him so fit and what cost him? I didn't want pain anymore because it was unbelievable. After sharing a dressing room with one of my heroes, he told me some amazing things about Diego Maradona. It's a shame because he was a great person and he died alone. nobody was with him. He died like a dog. In this episode, I get to show you a side of the iconic striker that few have ever seen.

1:36I had to concentrate because I knew you. One chance is one goal. But I never had the chance. Yeah, we were lucky. Because you. So sit back and enjoy this conversation with one of the greatest number nines to ever play the game.

1:56So Gabby, thank you very much for coming. Thank you. I only know you as Batigol. That's the only name I know. When I grew up, that's all I knew is Batigol. Not even Batistuta, Gabriel, Batigol. Batigol. Unbelievable. Worldwide, everybody knows this. Another thing, I read up on you and I had to do some research when I knew I was going to be able to sit next to you. And one of the things was at a young age, you wasn't really in love with football. You loved other sports like basketball. Tennis. Yeah? handball, every sport. Yeah, because when I was young I'd done gymnastics, I'd done even ballet.

2:30But these things helped me, I think, when I decided to be a footballer. Same for you? It helped me a lot. I played basket, so I learned how to jump. It helped me a lot. Playing soccer, I played tennis, so you have to move quickly. Good feet. Yeah, when I was young, soccer was my goal in life. I wanted to study. I wanted to be a doctor. No way. Wow. The problem was that my family was not good financially. Yeah, yeah. So I had to do something to pay my studies. Wow. That is because I started playing soccer and I moved from home to Rosario, 500 kilometers. That was the first time I met Bielsa, which was unbelievable for me because he was already super professional and I didn't know anything about professional soccer.

3:40So I had to learn how to run, how to practice, how to eat, everything. It was unbelievable for us. Because we were young, I was 18, and we couldn't understand him. But then we followed him. And he showed us the way, the real way. Would he be the most important coach you have? Yes, for sure, 100%. So, take me forward, you're playing, you've had different coaches now, Bielsa, big experience, you go to Florence. Yes. When you arrive in Florence, did you immediately feel at home? No, really. No, no, no, no. I didn't like Florence at the beginning. I had to build myself as Batigol, no? When I was 10, I wasn't but a goal.

4:35When I was 15, I wasn't but a goal. When I was 20, I wasn't but a goal. So I worked a lot to improve myself and build that striker that you know. So when I arrived at Florent, the city didn't like me at the beginning. and then the job wasn't that good because Serie A, a small team, we fight for the Serie B. So what helped you change when you were in Florence? What enabled you to become Batigol? My mind. Yeah, because I thought I'm here, I'm far away from home. This can be the way to to solve a lot of economical problems. So put all your energy in here. And I started working and working and working and improving and training, training, training.

5:40Remember what Bielsa taught me. And slowly I started scoring, scoring, and then never stopped. But then I started loving Florence, I started loving Fiorentina supporters, so I understood that they wanted to win something because they never win anything. yeah yeah so that idea um

6:13made me made me stay in that in that city for 10 years trying to to make them win something you you mentioned scoring you started scoring goals and goals and goals at this time serie i was the biggest league yes the toughest league yes you remember the defenders like Turam, Maldini, Berezi, Cannavaro, Nesta. Crazy, crazy defenders. The best defenders in the world. And you were scoring goals all the time. How difficult was it? Oh, it was terrible.

6:47At that time, you had one or two chances per match. It was a lot. So you had to prepare all week just for that chance. If it happens, you must be ready. And it was like this. Matches finished 3-0 was unbelievable. Matches were 1-0, 1-1. 1-1, yes. It was unbelievable. So what would you be doing in training, knowing you've got these great defenders to play against? What are the one or two things that in training you always was doing to prepare for these defenders? I never think about them. I always see them above me. So always in front of the mirror, your right leg is good but not so good. Your left leg is bad.

7:43So try to improve it. Going to the third post, I prefer always go to the second post. But I understood that that wasn't enough. So, training myself to go to the first post, anticipate. Every day trying to improve something. Now it's a problem because now I'm 56 and that is not necessary. And you still think like this? Yeah, everything I do, I still think. If I play paddle, I want to play good paddle. And if I play golf, I want to be the best. Like Tiger. Like Tiger, and that is not healthy. And just to go back to those defenders, who were the toughest defenders you played against? Who would you say when you played in Serie A at that moment?

8:33Who would you go, that was the one player? The worst were Milan. Tassotti, Maldini, Baresi, Costa Curta. That was tough. And then came out Carnavaro Turam. Parma. Parma. Benarrivo.

9:05Buffon. Yeah, yeah. Oh, there's tough games then. Tough games, yes. Also, Juve had good defenders as well, then. Juve. Yeah. But no. You know Italian... Italian football was the best then? the best italian football was the best and the italian football is about defender it's the art of defend yes it's good stuff and that way we we we our career were till 30 because you arrive at that age kicking you yes just to so we talked about the defenders there but also the strikers in the league then was amazing you had you obviously signori signori manchini very very um chiesa chiesa bambas then before before them was george way there then george waya where yeah yeah bozic oh bozic for last year yeah at that time italy we were the was the top.

10:11Every top player wanted to go to Italy. Like England now. You forgot Crespo before. Oh, Crespo. There were some great strikers then. This is what I mean. Do you think the strikers were better then compared to now? I think yes. Because it was tough. Now if I watch a soccer match, I can see spaces everywhere. Where you would score goals. Yeah. Yeah. But at that time, it was tough to find the space to go and try scoring. You were a tough defender. You, Campbell. Yeah, me and Campbell. Fuck. Shit. No, this game for me was hard as well because I had to concentrate because I knew you. One chance is one goal.

11:06But I never had the chance. Yeah, we were lucky. Because you. No, we were lucky. I was young and you were more old at the end of your career. So it was maybe physically I was better in my time. But mentally I remember that this was the first game I really played against like a world superstar like you, I considered. And I have to be honest, I was so nervous before the game. And I was just thinking, I was thinking, please, after the game, I'm going to swap the shirt. But it was an amazing game for us, obviously. But you had a good time against England. For, in the NBA. When you scored in the game against England.

11:43Yeah, but we passed just by penalty. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was a good match. In that match, I scored after two or three minutes. Yeah. Penalty. And that day I was born, my third son. On this day? Yeah, on this day. You didn't go home? No, I stayed. For the country? Yes, I stayed there. Wow. He was born at 8am and we played at night time. In the evening, yes. Wow, so you played that game and you scored on the day of your son being born. Yes, yes. June, 1998. There was a problem then with Beckham and Simeone. Yeah, yeah. Big problem. Big problem. Yeah, big problem. This almost finished Beckham because when he came to England, I don't know if you know, the England fans were against Beckham.

12:36So it was crazy. But it was not his fault. No. Nah. Simeone played the games. Yeah. Yeah? Yeah. Crazy guy. Crazy guy. Good to have him with you. Yeah. No game. You want in the war with him, you want to go. Yeah. This game, England-Argentina, is it like massive rivalry with you guys? Diego made it. You remember Falkland? Yeah, yeah. 82? Yeah. And Diego made this match special. He's speaking about this in a time in the changing room? Yes, yes. Wow. Yes. Diego made this match special. And now when we play against England, it's always... It's not a war, but we want to win. And then he scored with the hand.

13:29and they scored the best goal in the World Cup. England and Argentina became a derby. It's one of the matches. So in this 98, before the change room, before you guys are crazy about this game. Even if I didn't feel that, because the world was not my... It wasn't my problem. It wasn't your problem? No, it wasn't my problem. But we talked about that. Wow. You were talking about different emotions to our dressing room at that time. What about Michael Owen? Did you know about Michael Owen before this game? And he scores this crazy goal? Yeah, I know him. He was too fast. He was too fast. Just to stay with Maradona because he's my hero.

14:29Maradona was my hero when I was young. Give me one story. You must have one story because you was with him. A good story. But he loved me. I don't know why. He loved me. He always talked good things about me. He was my hero. Even if I didn't like soccer, I had his poster in my room. And then I played with him. I scored my first match in the World Cup. It was Argentina and Grecia. Four nil for us. I scored three. And he scored one. He scored his last goal in the national team. Oh wow. And that was unbelievable because when I scored three goals I was thinking now when I go out journalists are going to be all around me asking me what I feel and asking me everything and it never happened because Diego scored one.

15:43So he took the spotlight? Yes. Wow. For me, he was a great person with his problem, but he was a great person. Why do you think he loved you? I know, it's something that I can explain. I always try to tell him the truth, even if he was 10 years older than me. but I when I when I feel something I I am able to to say you know and probably that made him like him respect you respect me yes yes yes yes I remember him in a good mood was he was he a difficult guy to manage for the managers yes I think so his problem was he was famous when he was six years old he was already famous he grew up in his family was and wasn't wealthy wealthy yeah and they saw in him a way to escape from that situation and I don't blame anybody.

17:02It's long to explain. Nobody said no to him when he was young. Everything was okay. That was a big mistake. It's dangerous for a human to have this. Yes, yes. It's a shame because he was a great person and he died alone. nobody was with him. He died like a dog. And no, no, no. We didn't do much for him. To protect him. No, we didn't do much to protect him. And that is something that I don't like to to think about because I blame myself too because I was one of the key supporters and if you like if you want somebody you need to help when they need why not even if they are tough to treat yeah you need to still be helped them yes it's crazy because I don't know any Any footballer that I feel this feeling from other people, other players, other fans, they have with Maradona, it's different with him.

18:26You could have bet, maybe people think other players are better, but there's something with Diego that is more, you know? It's sad. And that is not a good sensation, you know, because he gave all us unbelievable moments. Yeah. No, you're right. you're right i hope it doesn't happen to to messi no because when when they are there you don't see they have problems you think they are okay they have everything they don't cry they don't they look more than human yes isn't it but that's what i always say maradona phenomena Cristiano, Messi they look like everything is perfect superheroes but they still have the normal things we have for sure they are human but that is the fame yeah exactly that's what comes with fame is true do you keep hearing podcast ads like this one for example but always wonder how you actually get involved with them for your own brand or organization Well, it's easier than you think.

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20:08Obviously in Argentina, Messi, Maradona is always the comparison. What did you see when you first saw Maradona compared to what we're seeing with Messi? I think they are different. They are different. Because Messi scored 1 ,000 goals, Maradona scored 200. Maybe not. So, Messi is quite a boy, Maradona Weston. For me, Maradona was an ace at the top because he could play, he could manage, the referee, the opponent.

20:57He was able to do unbelievable things. And Messi can do that, but I think he has another charisma? Charisma. The same charisma. It's funny because I read a quote. It says, Messi, even if he's technically as good, or maybe even better, he can't surpass him. Lionel Messi does not have Maradona's charisma. Okay. I say that. Yeah, you said this. A few years ago. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I'm… The same. The same. I don't lie. I say what I think. Did Messi have to win the World Cup to be considered near Maradona? For supporters, yes. But it was not necessary. No. No, no, no. This guy has more than 20 years that he's there.

21:48It's something unbelievable. Even now, he's in Miami and he wants to score and he wants to win. It's unbelievable. I'm quite sure they are going to do a good job next year. In the World Cup? Yes, I'm almost sure. Can they win it again, you think? I think so. Yeah. Wow. I think so. I don't know, you know, it's soccer. Not England? Not England? I like England. I always like England, but when you arrive at the World Cup, something happens. If somebody asked me about the national team that could win the World Cup, I would say England. Yes, but your history is not that good. I don't know if you know, but the people that watch our shows, they all want to know from you about goal scoring and strikers because you were elite.

22:46I read a line where you said you can't teach a goalscorer, you're born with it. What do you mean? It's just there because it's a matter of timing. Probably you know how to do, but you don't feel when to do it. You know, it's something that you cannot teach. You have to feel, you know, when the ball, when your mate is going to do a cross, you just have to imagine the speed of the ball, how it is arriving, looking at the defender, what his reaction and react about this is you can, no, I think it's not possible to teach it. You can teach how to hit the ball with the head, with the leg, how to stop it, but you cannot teach when to do it in the moment exactly to do it.

24:01Because I think you scored every type of goal. Yeah. You scored headers, you scored volleys, you scored 30 yards. Is that natural or are you working on this all the time? I work a lot. Yeah? When I start, I just get strong. Yeah, yeah. Power. Power, power. I just get the power. But I work a lot. It's funny because you say you are born with timing and knowing when to go in the box. I played with Cristiano Ronaldo and when he was young, he didn't show this quality. But then he grew and then he started to show that he could anticipate where to be. So he seems like a little bit different in that sense.

24:50Probably because he improved physically and then because he loved to be there. He loves to score and you... It's a way. You go learning every match. I think that's important. Learning. Learning, learning. Always, always. I met a lot of players in my career that think that they knew everything. And that is a big mistake. Big mistake. You did the same. I did. Generally, top players are humble. They want to learn, they accept their mistakes.

25:41For me, it's more comfortable to talk about soccer with you rather than talk about soccer with my son, for example. You were a top player, you know how to arrive there. You were humble, you went to learn and followed your coach and everything. I told to my son, he know everything and he never played. Hey, why you don't hit here? And I met a lot of players like this. even in first division, but they didn't do much weight. I always find that these type of guys, the ones who don't want to accept or listen, they can get to the top, but they don't stay. Don't stay. They go. Do you know what I mean?

26:34That's what I always find. Because you may change, no? When you arrive at the top, you see, you... It's probably you think, okay, I arrive, I know everything, but it's not right. No. So the guys who think that they are already right, fall down. Talking about intelligence, I think, and quality in Serie A, this time we forgot one name. Ronaldo Phenomeno. Wow. Best I ever seen. Yeah? Yes. He was a striker. He was different. He was different. He was different. I wanted to be like him, but... What made him different? Because you saw him close and you were going up against him as one of the best strikers in Serie A.

27:20He was able to dribble more than me. And he liked that. I never liked dribbling. I think that dribbling was not necessary. Especially in Italy, because you had the time to dribbling. And if you try to dribbling, they kick your ankle. So I didn't like to get many hits in my ankle. But no, he knew how to do everything. He was able to keep the ball. He was able to dribbling. He was able to score. He was charismatic or charge? Clever, yeah. Clever, charismatic. Charismatic. I think he was hard to play against. I think what you said is very true. He could do everything and he could dribble like a winger.

28:13Yes. So it made him almost impossible to play against when he was fit. Fast forward now to the strikers where we're seeing now, the number nines like, I don't know, Haaland, Kane, Lewandowski, Mbappe now is number nine. What do you appreciate about any of these guys? Who do you think would you say is the best number nine in the game today? Now? Yeah.

28:41Very tough. I could say no, because they are different, but they score a lot. So I could say Mbappé, but I could say Lautaro Martinez. I could say Haaland. They just score every match. Yes, like crazy. Every match, it doesn't matter if it's an important match or a normal match. They always score.

29:14Then it's tough to choose one because you have to consider it in the team they play. Yeah, I always hate it. But Haaland surprised me. Because he's always in the right position. If you give him three balls, he scores fourth. Yes, it's unbelievable. I don't think he played like me, but he surprised me because you see him look like slow look like not interested no yes and then boom yeah this is for a defender is a nightmare yes when the guy is just not interested then bam yes it takes you by surprise just take because i like to hear what the strikers say take me between into the the box near the goal.

30:14When the ball is wide, what are you feeling? What are you looking for at this moment? When the ball is wide, I'm looking at you. You're looking at me? Yeah. Because I won't go. If you go to the first post, I will go to the second. And if you go to the second, I will go to the first. Okay. Yes. It's crazy, isn't it? I'm looking for you. And I'm looking for you the whole time. Yeah, but your problem is you have to defend it. If you look at me, you are not looking at the ball. It's true. I recognise that the job is worse for you rather than a striker. I'm glad you said that. I'm happy you say this.

31:06It's true. I agree. It's true. because it's hard because we have to watch the ball and the guy and you and me and maybe one more you look at me you are dead dead you look at the ball you are dead too no i can't win you is no it's tough for you it's very tough yes i used to look at a defender because i attacked the space If I go close to you, it's going to become tough for me. Because we start fighting. And that's enough. No, you don't want that. No. No, you don't need that. What is that, if you could say to young strikers, because we have a lot of young strikers watch the show. If you could say to one young striker, one thing they need to understand about scoring at elite level, what would it be?

32:08The first thing is practicing. How they see that the match is going to be. When you go practicing, you just practice. And you stop the ball, you look at the goalkeeper, You have time, and that is not the match. I think you should practice training the match. The same way as you play in a match. Trying to do the practice like the match. I think the space is the best thing for a striker. Attack the space. You don't have the chance to choose many positions when you are defending. You go to the first post and your position is not always the same but almost. Because you have one thing in your mind, defend your goal.

33:07And doing that, you give me the option to choose where I go. That is one of the secrets, our secrets, no? Going to the space. The top strikers always know there's no way to go for the space. Yes. They are always in the right position, no? You say, oh, what luck. But no, it's no luck. You know, in Italy, at this time, there's a lot of kicking. And I heard you had big problems with your ankles. Ancles, yes. Was this just because of Italy or before when you went to Italy? I always had problems. It was so powerful here, but my bones were not. So I always had problems. Even when I started playing, when I met Bielsa,

34:01I started having problems with my ankle. Then kicks and everything. Never stop, never stop, never. I read you always have to train, have to play, have to train. yeah if i had an injury on sunday i play on sunday so i never stop i i kick my like killer myself yeah i read one i don't know if this is true i read one in one article where he said to the doctor just take off yeah it's true yeah yeah yeah yeah i i didn't want pain anymore because it was unbelievable. I couldn't even sleep because every time I moved my ankle, even a small movements, it was so hard. Wow. And I didn't want to feel pain anymore.

34:57Doesn't matter if I have two foot or two prostheses. I didn't want pain. Wow. Yeah, it was terrible. Because of football? Because of football, yes. Football gives me a lot, but takes me a lot too. Did you think about football, like you blame football a little bit, resent football or was you okay with it? No, no, I blame myself. It's all about me. I like that, honest. It's good. Before you go, we always ask the guys, like we had Beckham before Michael Owen, and we Can you ask to name a five-a-side team of the best player you play with? I was lucky. Diego, I played with Diego. Diego Maradona. Played Canigia.

35:44Canigia, oh, I forgot about him. He was fast. Fast. Fast, he was fast. Even more than Owen. Yeah, he was fast. I played Redondo. Oh, Redondo. Please tell me about Redondo a bit, please. Great player. He was great. He was different too. Like artists? Elegant, yes. I played Totti, I played Cafu. That's five. Tell me about Totti, why was Totti so good? You played with him in Roma, no? Yes. He's given you the goals. Yeah, he was young when I played there, but he already played, was great. He stayed at home. He played for... He was... He is Roman. Yeah. Unbelievable how... The way he understood the action.

36:42It wasn't necessary anything. Just go to the goal and the ball is going to... Because... He's famous because he's number 10. He played behind the striker, but at the beginning he was a striker. So he always gives you the ball thinking about the striker. For the striker, the ball is better here rather than here. And that is very important, very, very important, because it's nothing. The quality. It makes a difference. He understands you. He understands what you need, what you want. Yes, yes. Wow. Well, Batigol, Gabriel, I really appreciate this. This is an interview I've been wanting to do for a long time, so I appreciate your time and thank you so much.

37:33Rio, for me it's a pleasure. I promise you that if we made it next year, my English is going to be better. Sorry for that. No, it's been very good. Listen, really appreciate it. Thank you so much. Great player. Thank you.

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