Franco Selvaggi is part of the 1982 World Cup champions, even though he didn`t play in the matches in Spain. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the former striker discusses his career. “Do people say I was called up to not overshadow Rossi? It`s something that comes up every time they talk about me, and it hurts a lot,” recalls the former player of Roma, Taranto, and Cagliari, among others. “And above all, it disrespects the memory of Bearzot. Do you really think so? The way some people tell it, it seems like the coach brought me to Spain just because he liked me. The truth is different: Bearzot had great respect for me, as a person and as a footballer. Given my characteristics, he considered me Paolo Rossi`s reserve. It was absolutely right to focus on Paolino: Bearzot was too loyal and correct to avoid that ethical and technical duty. And we all saw, fortunately, how it went. Rossi was the hero of that triumph.”
But in the season leading up to the World Cup in Spain, I was always called up and played three games. So it`s not like I came out of nowhere. And despite never stepping onto the field during the Mundial, players like Franco Baresi, Dossena, Vierchowod, Massaro, Bordon, and Galli and I are world champions. Paolo Maldini? I remember Udinese-Milan in January 1985. This young boy, 16 years old, came on, I knew he was Cesare`s son,” Selvaggi recalls. “He positioned himself on the right, and I said to my attacking partner Andrea Carnevale: `I`ll take care of his side.` Less than 5 minutes pass, and Maldini always anticipates me. I signal to Carnevale: `Come back here, I`m switching flanks.` Maldini was the best Italian defender of all time. Once I reminded him: `But that day you should have told me you were a phenomenon,`” recalls the former Azzurri player, a world champion.