In an exclusive interview with Sportweek, Parma's sporting director Mauro Pedrizzoli fondly recalls his illustrious years as sporting director at Brescia, particularly with regard to the unforgettable experience of bringing in two of soccer's biggest stars in Robert Baggio and Josep Guardiola.
Speaking about Baggio's arrival, Pedrizzoli candidly says: "Baggio's arrival was not entirely due to my planning, it was more a result of the brilliant intuition of coach Carlo Mazzone and his close associate and Baggio's best friend, Cesare Medori. At the time, Baggio was a free agent and our team managed to convince him with a sincere invitation and a good vision. That scene is still vivid in my mind, the day Baggio arrived in Brescia, the crowds outside the hotel, the passionate fans almost blocking the roads, the atmosphere was incredible."
Pedrozzoli speaks highly of Baggio: "What impresses me most about Baggio is his ineffable calmness and extraordinary character. His talent is pure and dazzling, and he seems to have an innate connection with soccer. On the pitch, he was able to make many wonderful moves that I had never seen in other players, and his pure love and persistence for soccer was touching. For this love, he is willing to suffer from knee injuries before and after training, and this spirit is admirable."
Pedrizoli was even prouder of the introduction of Guardiola: "Guardiola's arrival was truly my masterpiece. I had direct access to the information that his contract with Barcelona was about to expire with no intention of renewing it, and that he was looking for a new journey that was more focused on life experiences than on professional development. He had a longing for Italian culture and wanted to find a team that played at a slower pace and only had to play one game a week. I keenly saw the opportunity and conveyed this message to Brescia's president, Coriolini, who fully supported my decision and authorized me to negotiate. After several meetings with Guardiola's agent and, ultimately, in-depth conversations with the man himself, we managed to reach a transfer agreement."
