In a wide-ranging interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso opened up about Luciano Spalletti, his evolution under the new manager, his adaptability on the pitch, and the attention he reportedly received from Manchester City.
A player admired by Spalletti since their time together with the Italian national team, Cambiaso is proving to be one of the most versatile weapons at the coach’s disposal. Spalletti once described him as “a player who sees the field not only vertically and horizontally, but in a circular way,” an observation the defender still remembers fondly.
“I Took It as a Compliment”
“I took it as a compliment, as something different to describe my characteristics,” Cambiaso said. “I think football today is heading in that direction — occupying the spaces that can be created on the pitch.”
“Spalletti Is Pure Passion”
“Spalletti is pure passion,” he explained. “That’s what defines him, but he’s also much more. He gets into your head, he connects with you. Sometimes he says things in a very original way, but he always gets to the point. In just a few days he brought plenty of new ideas into the group. Compared to how he was when I met him with the national team, he’s changed a lot.”
“We’re in the Title Race — It’s Only Logical”
When asked about Juventus’s Scudetto ambitions, Cambiaso was clear: “We’re in the title race? It’s fair to say yes — in fact, it’s logical. When he said it to us in the dressing room at Continassa, we all followed him. Before Cremona we were six points behind the top; after Cremona, four. It’s a question of numbers.”
“Napoli and Inter Are Favourites — But the Fight Is Open”
“Who are the best equipped? Napoli and Inter,” he said. “Napoli because they’re the reigning champions, Inter because of what they’ve shown in recent years. Behind them, it’s an open race — a very open race. And when the race is wide open, anything can happen.”
“Spalletti Lives Football 24 Hours a Day”
Beyond tactics, Cambiaso praised his manager’s obsession with detail: “Spalletti focuses on every detail, at every moment of work — from goal kicks to throw-ins, to the first whistle. He lives football 24 hours a day, I think he watches thousands of matches. His method is a modern way of teaching football.”
“I See Myself a Bit Like Calafiori”
“Who’s similar to me? Many players. But if I had to name one, I’d say Calafiori — he starts as a full-back and you find him up front. And at Arsenal that’s how they all play; I follow them, I study them, I like that style. I’m sure if you asked Spalletti, he’d tell you the same — he watches the Gunners’ games as well. And the other night, with Chelsea, Cucurella was everywhere too.”
“Right or Left? It’s Instinct”
“Right or left side? For me, it’s instinctive. Since I was a kid, I’ve played in multiple positions, and that’s helped me understand many areas of the pitch. I was talking to Mac (McKennie) recently — he said being able to play everywhere can sometimes mean not excelling in one specific thing. I don’t see it that way. I think it’s a positive — it allows the coach to have more options.”
“I Still Have Plenty to Improve”
“I don’t feel I’ve arrived. It wouldn’t make sense,” the 24-year-old added. “I started my Serie A career later than others, at 21, which is still early in many ways. I’ve come a long way, but I’ve got a long road ahead too. I see plenty of room for improvement.”
“City Were Interested — But I Never Asked to Leave”
“Was I close to joining Manchester City? There was interest last January, nothing more. I was never close to leaving Juventus, and I never made any statements about wanting to go. I was flattered, of course, but that’s all. People said I’d lost motivation — that bothered me. But that’s how football works. It was clear my dip in form wasn’t about attitude, though to be honest, if I were on the outside, maybe I’d have thought the same. Anyway…”
“Vlahović Is a Leader — Zhegrova Impressed Me”
“Dusan is a leader, someone who plays for the team and with the team,” Cambiaso said. “Recently I’ve seen him calmer and more relaxed, but he’s never stopped showing his commitment. For a striker, scoring matters — and he keeps scoring.”
“As for the new signings — they’ve all brought quality and professionalism. If I had to name one, it’d be Edon (Zhegrova). He impressed me when we played Lille in the Champions League, and he’s confirmed everything I thought of him. Spalletti is right — that ‘little jab’ he has in one-on-one situations is lethal.”
