APPIANO GENTILE – Gianluca Pagliuca was the guest on this week's episode of Memorabilia on Inter Channel to go back through the standout moments of his time at Inter.
The first part of the show was dedicated to his seven seasons at Sampdoria and then switched to his spell in the Nerazzurri shirt.
"I had big shoes to fill," he recalled, "those of Walter Zenga. There was great respect between us; every now and again we'd tease each other as we were competitors but there was affection too.
"Leaving Sampdoria wasn't easy for me, but I knew I was joining a massive club. Under Massimo Moratti's presidency, fantastic players were being signed. You understood straight away there was great desire for success."
Nevertheless, Pagliuca was made to wait a couple of seasons until the UEFA Cup campaign in 1997/98 before being able to lift silverware with his new club.
"That was a great year and we had a brilliant squad," Gianluca continued. "Luigi Simoni was like a father to us; everyone loved him. Unfortunately, some scandalous things took place in the league that season, even beyond Juventus v Inter which everyone knows about. Sadly, this wasn't the only episode, but from a symbolic point of view at least I consider that Scudetto to be mine. We all know what came out in the following years.
"We ended the season with the best defence in Serie A and we had superstars up front."
Pagliuca's stay at Inter came to a somewhat abrupt end in 1999, something which still rankles the former shotstopper.
"If it was up to me, I wouldn't have changed clubs," he declared. "I was still competitive, but when Marcello Lippi arrived all those who had clashed with him from when he was Juventus coach were purged. It was the same with Diego Simeone and Giuseppe Bergomi. Moratti called time on my career at Inter and, despite receiving many offers, I decided to go back to Bologna. They were fantastic years and I'd do it again if given the chance, but playing in your home town is not easy because there's a lot of pressure."
Then came Gianluca's swansong in Serie A during 2006-07, a season in which he wrote himself into the history books.
"Thanks to my final year at Ascoli, I was able to break Dino Zoff's record for goalkeeping appearances in the top flight."
Speaking about record breakers, Pagliuca also shared his early memories of Javier Zanetti, newly arrived at the club.
"I first saw him during pre-season in 1995," he remembered. "He was like a steam train in his first training drill. I knew he'd become a big player, but you could never have said that he'd go on to play until he was 40.
"He always had amazing physical strength and great passion. I think Inter fans loved him in particular because he put so much heart into his performances and his love for the Nerazzurri was unbridled."
Pagliuca signed off with a comment on his unbeaten streak against AC Milan.
"I played in ten derbies and I lost none, so I'm very proud! I'll be remembered for never losing in the Derby della Madonnina!"
