Javier Zanetti "Il Capitano" >>The Living Legend

[Jager]

Zanetti doesn’t fear ‘Dinho Monday 13 August, 2007

Inter captain Javier Zanetti has claimed that the Nerazzurri would be Scudetto favourites even if Milan were to sign Ronaldinho.

There are still rumours around the peninsula that the Rossoneri are preparing one final swoop before the start of the season, despite assurances from officials at the club that they have completed their business for the summer.

However, after an impressive transfer campaign that has seen the arrival of Honduran hitman David Suazo and Romanian defensive star Cristian Chivu, Zanetti believes his side should fear no-one.

“Suazo is a formidable player and he knows Serie A very well, so he can trouble everyone,” he told Il Giornale.

“Chivu has experience despite his youth and will also do really well. He is important because the defence comes first and then you build a winning side around that.

“Milan have 20 days left to make a move and they might, but I wouldn’t be scared even if Ronaldinho arrived – we are inferior to nobody.”

To conclude, the Beneamata’s fifth most loyal player - with 389 appearances - was asked his opinion on the growing number of foreigners playing in Italy.

“I don’t see that the influx of stranieri is weakening the game here,” the Argentine insisted.

“It annoys me when people accuse us of not loving the Inter shirt just because we aren’t Italian.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Trim]

The Inter captain has pledged his future to the Nerazzurri, hoping to have a future behind the desk as the club once he hangs up his boots to quit playing.

Javier Zanetti, captain of Inter, has made some declarations which will surely please all Inter fans, as he stated that he will never be friends with rivals Milan and Juventus.

"I have a lot of respect for Del Piero, and I would have given the Golden Ball to Maldini," he declared, "But I have a Nerazzurro heart, I could never be friends with Milan and Inter. Everything divides us, from the ideology to the way we work."

Zanetti continued talking about his future at Inter and the only time he considered leaving the Nerazzurri in his long career with the Italian club.

"I'm ready to play till I'm 40-years-old, then I could remain at the club, but not as a coach. The only delicate moment I had was with Tardelli."

The Inter captain went on to suggest new upcoming Argentinean stars.

"Amongst the young Argentineans there's Banega, who reminds me of Cambiasso, and he can become one of the best midfielders in the world."

Goal.com - Inter Milan - I'll Never Be Friends With Milan And Juve, Says Javier Zanetti

[Buddha14]

He was great last night started at Rb and moved into DM lead the team well.

[Jager]

Mancini: "Zanetti, the perfect player"
Saturday, 10 November 2007 16:16:12

APPIANO GENTILE - More of Roberto Mancini's Inter v Lazio news conference:

Mancini, Zanetti has played 400 league matches for Inter. What can you tell us about the Argentine?
"If he continues like this he'll get to eight hundred matches for Inter because he plays every time. And I think he has already reached the record of appearances for the Argentine national team (115 along with Fabian Ayala). He's the perfect player because he's very serious and this seriousness makes him indispensable. Even when he's not at his best he always brings out something from that great physique he possesses because he leads an exemplary lifestyle. I think he's one of those players who can continue playing until he's forty years old."

Has playing him in midfield has helped him do even better than what he has already shown he can do?
"Zanetti can play in several positions. I thought he could be very useful to the team in midfield because he has an important ability which is dribbling his opponent and making strong runs on goal. In a midfield position he can be very dangerous and he can help the team. He has always done very well in defence, but from that position he has to run more. But he has already played in that role and I remember he played in midfield against my Lazio in a UEFA Cup final and he also scored a goal. Like I said, he can cover many positions on the pitch and can do very well in each one of them."

F.C. Internazionale Milano - Sito Ufficiale

[D-Kin]

Javier Zanetti will become Argentina’s most capped international if he plays against Bolivia in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier. He currently has 115 caps, the same number as Roberto Ayala.
channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Zanetti enters history books Sunday 18 November, 2007

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Javier Zanetti has set a new record with 116 caps for Argentina, but his Inter teammate Esteban Cambiasso picked up an injury.

“I am very proud and happy,” he told the official Inter website. “It is not easy to reach an achievement like this and stay at the top level, especially in a country forever churning out new talents.”

‘El Tractor’ made the historic appearance during last night’s 3-0 victory over Bolivia, surpassing the tally set by former Milan defender Fabian Ayala.

Curiously, both made their debut on the same day, during the game against Chile on November 16, 1994.

“I have always been proud to defend the colours of Argentina and every time I am called I come here with great desire and enthusiasm.”

Zanetti would have had even more caps had he not been surprisingly left out of the 2006 World Cup squad, but even after that snub he did not retire from international duty.

In his career for Argentina the 34-year-old has played 70 wins, 26 draws and 20 defeats, scoring a grand total of five goals.

However, there was also bad news for the Nerazzurri during the same game, as midfielder Cambiasso was stretchered off after a clash with Ronald Gutierrez.

The details of his injury are still unclear, but it would be a bitter blow to lose him as well, after Roberto Mancini lost Patrick Vieira, Dejan Stankovic and Luis Figo.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

Oh my, and he is still going strong too!!

Simply a class act all around. Never hear him say a bad word about anybody, he is a constant diplomat of Inter, Argentina and football.

Awesome.