December 3rd, 1999
"I don't know if I'm staying until 2004"
Toldo, Fiorentina, the future and an Internet site

by Giuseppe Calabrese

Yesterday he presented his Internet site (www.toldo.net), and that makes him smile: "It feels so 
weird". He has been living together with his girlfriend Manuela for a week: "Sooner or later you 
have to get some responsibilities. However, it takes a woman with great qualities to stand by a 
footballer". Francesco Toldo is like this. Shy and determined. And, like Trap says, one among 
the five best goalkeepers in the world.

Excuse me, who are the four goalkeepers in the world who are better than you?

"I don't know, that statement from Trapattoni surprised me, too".

But in your opinion, who are the five best goalkeepers in the world?

"The three who play for the Italian national team are undoubtedly among them".

Thus, Toldo is one of them.

"Sure".

But Buffon is better...

"Who said that?"

Zoff did, he never lets you play.

"But that's a different story, even at the times of Zenga and Tacconi there was this kind of 
dualism. Zenga was playing and Tacconi was sitting on the bench".

Does this mean that you are satisfied with being the eternal second?

"Not at all and I hope I can soon have a chance to prove how much I am worth".

To tell the truth, you did have your chance in Split four years ago, and it was an excellent 
debut. What happened ever since?

"After that game, I played three bad games in a row in Serie A and I was left out of the azzurri 
group. I had to work hard to get back in".

But Buffon stays where he is...

"I am happy for him".

Are you really not envious?

"Never. I am glad when good things happen to the others".

Let't talk about you, how did you change during these years?

"I grew up, but it's normal. With time I gained responsibility, experience and strength. And on 
a mental level, as I grew up, I improved some aspects that were typical of the young boy. All in 
all, it's hard to sail in the storm and if you want to keep floating you must adapt".

Are you happy with all these compliments?

"Of course, but I would be happier if I could put the Serie A rankings before my personal 
performances".

Don't you ever feel exalted, even after games like the one in Wembley or the one in Bologna?

"I'd rather put myself in the background, I'm not interested in personal glory and I don't like 
to get exalted. But I wish I could keep this kind of shape up until the end".

Rumours have it that you have a deal with Lazio already, is it true?

"No, it's all false".

Well, even if it was true you wouldn't admit it...

"It's impossible to say now whether I will stay until 2004. There are some rumours going round 
and I don't like them to influence anyone".

OK, got it. Let's talk about Fiorentina.

"We have to get more points in Serie A. Absolutely. We can still get among the first four but we 
cannot make any mistakes. It is wrong to only think about the Champions League and it's very 
risky as well".

How far can Fiorentina go in the Champions League?

"The games that will be played in March, they will be decisive, we can as well earn some points 
in advantage now but it is then that everything will be decided. And if we get to the next round 
we will start to scare many teams".

Your Internet site, how did the idea come up?

"Pietro Moroni asked me about it eight or nine months ago, it looked like a nice thing and I did 
it".

Are you fond of Internet like many footballers?

"No, I don't even have a computer. I am hopeless at these kind of things. And to be honest it 
still looks weird to me".

Excuse me, so why did you want to have a site of your own?

"I was curiois to see what could come out and I must admit that it's an excellent work. The site 
is very beautiful, now I want to see what the answer from the people will be. I will read 
everyhting that they write and I will reply to everyone. That's a promise".

Taken from La Repubblica
www.repubblica.it
English translation by Maddalena (www.acfiorentina.net/enricochiesa)