In the coming days, Felipe Melo will watch three of his former clubs face each other: Inter against Juventus, followed by Galatasaray versus the Bianconeri. The Brazilian midfielder, who once wore all three shirts, has reflected on his career and the choices that shaped it — including one he now admits he deeply regrets: leaving Juventus.
Speaking to Tuttosport, Melo looked back on his Italian years and shared his thoughts ahead of two high-profile clashes that bring together the key clubs of his past.
“Juventus Have More to Lose”
“Luciano Spalletti is, in my opinion, the perfect coach for this Juventus,” Melo said. “He’s used to winning and has great ability. The team fully reflects his character. Inter are also in great form — they’re playing well and getting results — but this match matters more to Juventus. If they want to grow, everything passes through their battles with Inter. Right now, I see Juve as slightly stronger.”
Remembering Galatasaray–Juve 2013
The former midfielder also recalled the 2013 Champions League encounter between Galatasaray and Juventus — a game remembered for its chaos as much as its drama.
“That Juve side was incredibly strong,” he said. “Everyone thought they’d top the group, but they ended up third. In the Galatasaray dressing room, we bonded tightly, and we showed our quality even in the first leg in Turin, drawing 2–2. The home match in Istanbul was bizarre — the snow, the terrible pitch, the game being split over two days. Winning against Conte’s Juve was special, even if we weren’t as strong as this current Gala.”
He still remembers the reaction of the Juventus players: “Their faces said it all — huge disappointment. It’s normal; they were so sure of qualifying. But football is like that. I’ve experienced my fair share of defeats, too.”
“I Regret Leaving Juventus”
Melo was candid about his time in Turin and his decision to leave in 2011: “I regret many things, and leaving Juve is one of them. I was a young player in a great club that hadn’t yet found its winning identity. The expectations were huge — I cost a lot, maybe too much. But wearing the Juventus shirt was like a life school.”
The former Brazil international revealed that Antonio Conte, then Juve’s new coach, wanted him to stay: “I saw Conte and Marotta in a meeting and immediately said I wanted to leave. Conte, who later transformed the club’s mentality, asked me to stay and even took me on pre-season training. But my mind was made up — I wanted out. If I could go back, I wouldn’t make the same choice.”
Despite his bond with Inter, Melo said he holds no bitterness: “I remain an Inter fan, but I’m happy Juventus went on to win after I left. I was lucky to join Galatasaray, even though PSG and Leonardo also wanted me. I don’t regret choosing Turkey — Istanbul is a magnificent city and the fans there are incredibly passionate.”
“Juve Favourites in Istanbul”
Looking ahead to the Champions League clash between Juventus and Galatasaray, Melo sees the Italians as better equipped: “Juventus are the favourites. Galatasaray don’t have a true European DNA, while Juve are stronger overall. But it will be a battle in Istanbul — just look at how Gala have troubled Manchester City and Bayern Munich recently.”
