Javier Zanetti

“The guys who play in midfield and up front are the ones who decide games.”

“I have always taken pleasure from the affection I received from Banfield fans everytime I have returned here, but I will not close my career with them.”

“I was close to joining Barcelona and Real Madrid, but I am happy to have remained at Inter because I knew that sooner or later our moment to shine would arrive, and it did.”

“Rafael Benitez and Mourinho are coaches with different ideas, but both want to win.”

“Before coming to this decision to leave the game I had thought about it a lot.”

“When I was promoted to the main squad at Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, I felt my dream had become reality.”

“If I had a lock of hair out of place then I would not feel OK.”

“The thing about Champions League football is it can turn on an instant. You can have a very good, solid team over the course of the season, but the Champions League is more like the World Cup, where your fate can be decided in a second and you need a bit of luck too.”

“Football is made up of episodes.”

“My relationship with Moratti goes beyond the normal ties between a president and a captain. I was an unknown and he believed in me. It's something that I will never forget. Indeed, I will always thank him for that.”

“I've been lucky to be part of very good teams and to play with immense players.”

“We Argentines do not realise what Leo represents for the whole world.”

“Milan are always a team to be respected.”

“I am a big fan of Independiente and I played in their youth systems before being released for being too small, so I went to work with my father as a builder. This helped me understand a lot of things about life; it made me mentally very strong and it also pushed me to go and play for another team.”

“I'm happy with my career.”

“Messi is the best player in the world, the things he does with the ball are incredible. If someone knows how to stop him, they have to tell me.”

“Injuries are part of the job.”

“I will not end my career with Banfield. I will stay at Inter until the end, the Nerazzurri fans should remain tranquil.”

“It's an honour for me to wear the Inter shirt. To have been involved in so many important moments that all of us and our fans will keep in our hearts and minds forever, I feel privileged.”