Appiano Gentile - Javier Zanetti, just hours before the game number 1000 in your career. What do you see when you look back?
"The face of my father, Ignacio Rodolfo. He and I, before the night of my debut, were together at home. I must admit that I only slept for a few hours. Just like the night before the final in Madrid because I'm one that before I play I always sleep."
Will you be thinking of your father again tomorrow night?
"I always think about my father: he was a bricklayer and taught me and my brother the value of certain things and I always find myself using those values whenever I have a difficult time. I remember that I helped him as his work, later I helped my brother Sergio who was a postman, or my cousin Carlo to delivered the milk. And my father helped me to understand life."
Let's go back to the first game?
"September 1992, Buenos Aires, Nacional B, third matchday and at five in the afternoon. We played at home, a very small stadium with about 5000 fans more or less, called Talleres de Cordoba. The game ended 2-1 in favor of us and I played for 90 minutes on the right side of a three-man midfield."
And less than three years at that time, you arrived at Inter...
"President Moratti and his son had already discovered me in a videotape at Pan American with the Under 21, and then Giovanni Branchini and Paolo Taveggia, both were in Argentina for Rambert and Ortega, and after they saw me in Banfield-Gimnasia De La Plata I signed for Inter later. I was in South Africa for a friendly with Argentina (May 15 1995) and the Argentina coach told me that: 'Inter had taken you.'"
And you?
"I then phoned my agent, Filippo Cavadini and he confirmed everything to me: 'We are working on it.' There were like 10 members of Banfield and yet five days later there was no agreement. He then telephoned the President of Argentine Football Association, Grondona: 'You have ten minutes to find a solution, the boy must go to Italy.'"
So, the boy arrived in Italy and is still here 16 years and one thousand games later: but what is your rapport as time is passing by?
"I live with serenity, enjoy every training session, every game. I feel happy everyday. I know one day I will have to say enough is enough but right now I'm not thinking about it."
Will that hour come in 2013 when your contract expires?
"If by then, I still feel like I am today then perhaps even later."
Are you afraid that you are going to make a mistake?
"I know the most important thing is that when I will feel to be the right time to retire. I will know when it comes. I hope to stay here, with a role that everybody can be happy, Inter and myself. But that role is not going to be as a coach."
What coach did you learn the most from?
"I have learned something from everyone but Bielsa taught me the best way to live and play football."
Game number 1000: unable to tell us which was the game that you played the best in?
"Perhaps the final of the 1998 UEFA Cup in Paris. And probably my first with Inter against Vicenza."
And the worst?
"Inter 3-5 Lazio (October 18 1998 ): Conceicao made me crazy."
Which game would you love to replay again?
"Lazio-Inter on May 5 of 2002. I still don't know what happened that day."
What victory is still missing for you?
"A title with Argentina, but in July we have the Copa America tournament at home..."
Which opponent is the strongest?
"I would say there are two: Ryan Giggs and Kaka."
Your first roommate?
"Benny Carbone at a retreat in Cavalese and Roberto Carlos in Pinetina."
And the last?
"Cordoba usually is but now that he is injured so before Inter-Roma I will share a room with Nagatomo."
The thrill that you can not forget?
"Our fans' curva in Madrid: I already had goose bumps an hour before warming up."
The time when you had the most anger?
"Juve-Inter in 1998 with Ceccarini as referee. We were carrying that game with us for a year and we could not do anything."
The tears that you could not detain?
"After the second derby in the semifinals of the Champions League in 2003: the San Siro that night I was never seen it like that and still haven't seen it.
The statement that accompanied you throughout the years?
"Giacinto Facchetti once told me: 'Javier, no gain without sacrifice.' Giacinto spoke very little but his words were like stones."
The words that you did not say but wanted to?
"Those to clarify my argument with Hodgson (after UEFA Cup final where we lost to Schalke 04, May of 1997): but not to him because we both knew what happened and we re-embraced each other after that. But to clarify to those who thought they knew what really happened that night."
You will play this historic game against Roma which is the opponent you have scored the most against in your career. A sign of destiny?
"The most goals but only one on the penalty (Italian Super Cup 2008 ) since I played and many have had their hands in the hair. I want the same against them and it is not a bad way to celebrate."
Zanetti, but in the 999 games, have you ever felt tired?
"Maybe after the final in Madrid, when the adrenaline went crazy for two weeks with the Scudetto, Champions League, and Italian Cup all at once. But you must believe me: I get tired a lot more with Sol and Ignacio, my children when we play a game..."
