signed at 30, left at 37. One day later Abramovich offered him £3m to return, then offered Cagliari £1.3m to rip up the contract, then phoned Massimo Cellino (then president) to offer £1m personally to call off the deal. That is how much he meant. Pure class
@@eddydonlon well I did give a link to Sky Sports. The news rumours at the time were that Abramovich tried to buy the whole Cagliari team but I don't know how much that was rumour. But Cellino himself said the truth a few days later. I was born in the 80's, followed Chelsea my whole life, and Zola was my favourite player. It isn't something you forget 🙂
Zola is often overlooked. As an Arsenal fan I was screaming to the television every time Zola had the ball in his feet.. I knew he was gonna do something spectacular and I didn't tolerate it lol
I dont think he was ever underrated and I dont think anyone said that about him great player and a great manager at the time the most underrated player in premiership history was in the same team though Gudjhonsen not sure how you spell it but he was amazing
@@HasibRaiyan one of my favourite players ever I think he was better then hazard in a league back then which was much more physical to not better maybe but as good
@@HasibRaiyan in the 95/96 season, the season in which ruud joined yall finished in 10th, in the following season when you had gio, you guys finished in the top 6 and would consistently do so right up until the roman days, so no gio coming in was the massive change
@@FkProductions14 with chelsea i realise this, with city on the other hand it’s a complete different kettle of fish, city were a relegation side, where as you guy were regulars in the top 6
It's a shame he didn't stay a few more years and win a title or two. He deserved it. One of the few genuine world class players in the Premier League in the 90's. If he left on a free in say 1998, he could have taken his pick of where he wanted to go in Europe. But instead he stuck it out at Chelsea which for the ill-informed youth, wasn't anything like the Chelsea of the last 20 years. An absolute class act.
If people think Chelsea - Liverpool only became a derby in 2003, they're either too young to remember or were just not paying attention. Gianfranco said it himself, he was there when Chelsea won the FA Cup in '97. And he was also on the scoresheet when they beat Liverpool 4-2 in the 4th round.
I will remember that game (FA Cup Final 1997) for the two goals - the rest was boring! 1) Roberto DiMatteo's bullet shot within the first minute to open the scoring 2) Dan Petrescu's cross to Zola, which he picked up on he goal line and back heeled for Steady Eddie Newton to score the second.
Difference between Chelsea and City getting bought out was, Chelsea were actually a decent team before the takeover, qualified for the champions league a few times and won a handful of cups in the preceding years to 2003, City on the other hand were basically relegation favourites almost every year and had been for about 30 years.
Oh wow , Chelsea had 1 PL and no FA cups ... City had 2 PLs and some FA cups ... 1970s were great for city. ..if they were funded then, would that make city a great time ?
@@grealish2234 bro what are you talking about, before being bought Chelsea won the FA cup 3 times (twice in the 90's before being bought), the UEFA cup winners cup twice (once in the late 90's) the League, two league cups (one in the 90's before being bought) and the UEFA super cup, also in the late 90's before being bought. Don't compare the success of city before their buyout to the success and station of Chelsea.
@@blikkz_5121 Chelsea relegated In 1987 and thrice in 1970s .... You were good in 1990s ... Your last title before 2004 was in 1950s (earlier than city's) .. just because you were on a temporary good form in 1990s (like city were in 1970s) doesn't mean you were a champion team ...not taking a diss at Chelsea history but just stating the facts
Football interviews are always bland and predictable.. and then you get someone like Zola. What a guy. Charming, thoughtful and personality in his expressions. Chelsea legend forever
Such a lovely gent, I am a gooner, but I have always admired the chelsea Italian contigents. Zola and Vialli where a joy to watch, unless they were scoring against us of course😀
