Cuore Granata: Ciccio Graziani tells Sorrentino about himself in new Betsson Sport content

An intense, authentic chat full of anecdotes and feeling. Francesco "Ciccio" Graziani opened up to the microphones of Betsson.Sport in an interview with Stefano Sorrentino, giving a human and sporting insight of rare sincerity. What emerges is a portrait not only of a great striker, but of a man deeply attached to the values of soccer and life.

Among the central themes was the special relationship with Paolo Pulici, a pair that made Torino fans dream: "What bound us together was that we both knew that we complemented each other, so much so that the difficulty for opponents was that all it took for us was a glance.", says Graziani, emphasizing the unique understanding with his attacking partner. A deep bond, on and off the field, made even stronger by that unforgettable season culminating with the 1976 Scudetto, when Toro wrote history.

There is no shortage of memories dedicated to teammates and legendary figures of the Granata club, such as Claudio Sala, Eraldo Pecci, Giorgio Ferrini and of course the coach Gigi Radice, authentic dragger of that unrepeatable group. And just about Ferrini, Graziani shares a touching anecdote, capable of restoring all the human and sporting greatness of a beloved captain: " Giorgio was a reference point of professionalism, of willingness to fight. I remember one time in a Bologna-Torino, Giacomo Bulgarelli made an entrance that if he caught me could have jeopardized my career, I was in time to raise my leg so he gave me the hit but not with my leg still on the ground otherwise he would have shredded me and Ferrini called him to one side and said: "listen to me, don't you ever let you make an entrance to this guy like that again because if you get it right you will ruin his career and from now on you have to deal with me," and I really appreciated that gesture."

Space is also given to the derby against Juventus, told not only as a match, but as a clash of identities and affiliations: "For us the derby was something special, the strength we put into those matches was almost exaggerated. We prepared in a special way, totally differently from all the other teams, and often this charge gave us a chance not only to do well but also to win despite the fact that they were stronger on paper. This charge, this determination, was like the people taking the field against the bourgeoisie. They represented the power, the richer and stronger team, while we were the workers, the people. And it was precisely from this difference between us and them that the spirit of the 'old Toro heart' was born, that fighting spirit that, in my opinion, has its roots in the myth of the Grande Torino ".

Among the most intense moments were the memory of the Scudetto celebrated with the fans, the most beautiful goal scored in the granata jersey against Ascoli, but also the emotions experienced in the national team: the disappointment of the Roma-Liverpool final, the triumphant ride of the World Cup '82, the legendary match with Brazil and the unforgettable return flight with Sandro Pertini, in which a simple game of cards became history.

Finally, Graziani reflects on modern soccer, without unnecessary nostalgia but with lucidity and affection for a world that has changed. With an evocative comparison: "To date Italian soccer has changed, the Franco Causio of the situation today is Di Lorenzo. It used to be that there were the wing back and the two forwards but the wing back were those players who had imagination, flair, unpredictability that to today there is no more, soccer has speeded up but it has lost these characteristics."

Don't miss the full interview! Discover all of Ciccio Graziani's anecdotes, from the golden years of Toro, to the 1982 World Cup triumph to modern soccer at this link.