Inter's Diego Godin pleasantly surprised with Italian soccer's level
Uruguayan defender Diego Godin, who is in his first season with Inter Milan after making 277 appearances in 10 seasons with Atletico Madrid, believes Italian soccer is reclaiming its spot among the world's most prominent leagues.
The 34-year-old Godin told ESPN recently that he has been pleasantly surprised with the level of play in Serie A -- a level that has reminded him of old times.
"I remember as a kid what we watched practically every Sunday was the Italian league, and Serie A is recuperating that prestige," Godin said. "The Premier League and La Liga have grown so much in the last years while Serie A has been pushed aside. But it's on the road back."
Godin made 12 starts for Inter before Italy Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte halted all sports in the country March 9 because of the coronavirus outbreak. The veteran defender pointed to how the league is beginning to draw top talent, just as it used to decades ago.
"A lot of players want to come to Serie A," he said. "The big names that are coming are helping to grow prestige more than anything, and that makes a lot of people watch."
What Godin found upon arriving in Serie A last July was a league that was more difficult to compete in than what he expected.
"The clubs all study each other a lot. It's a very tactical league, and I was surprised at how physical it was," he said.
Godin also touched on Juventus' recent run of dominance.
"It's true that Juve have eight or nine years in which they've cruised to the title. There is a big gap between them and the rest of the teams. Now, Inter are competing for the championship, and Lazio are a team that has been building for years with a group of players that have come up together, which makes them competitive.
"Napoli and Milan, which wants to be competing again for places in Europe, and a lot of mid-table teams are holding their own and some have beaten Juventus or Lazio. The league is becoming more and more competitive and attractive."
Source: espn.co.uk
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