Cagliari Compared to Raul Albiol (world champion defender with Spain) who he declared to be inspired by his physical prowess and technical skills, Sebastiano Luperto he is a central defender with a powerful physical size. He is effective in the air, has good individual technique and a decent vision of the game, a quality that allows him to set up the action from deep. Something he has shown he can do in these first seven days of the new season. The former Empoli captain is now a key player in Cagliari’s defence. A kind 28 year old boy, with gentlemanly manners, with a good basic culture, who becomes a sharp-toothed mastiff on the pitch. A man who knows how to make himself loved and appreciated.
In Cagliari in two months it has already become a fan favourite. Together with Mina he forms a solid, already close-knit pair of central defenders. In this interview, in which he doesn’t just talk about football, he confesses bluntly.
Sebastiano, you said that the retreat was important, can you explain why?
«We discussed a lot with each other, everyone expressed their opinion on the situation and what needed to be improved. It helped us work together more and get to know each other better. In sport these are not secondary things”.
A curiosity: when you lose a match, how do you vent?
«I have a lot of self-control, I try to analyze things calmly and rationally. Regarding the match, I try to understand my mistakes, and those made by the team as a collective. Then I talk to my teammates and the coach. The comparison is important.”
Do you already feel like a leader in the locker room or is it just an impression?
«One thing that positively surprised me were the “older” people in the locker room, they immediately made me feel like one of them. This allowed me to integrate quickly into the group. I feel like I’ve been playing here for a long time. A welcome like this makes you work well and gives you energy. I’m happy with the choice I made in the summer.”
Which teammate did you bond with the most? «I have a very good relationship with everyone. Of course, it’s normal to talk more with some, less with others. There isn’t one in particular. I am a cheerful person, I bond with everyone. It has always been like this.”
Cagliari’s goal remains salvation: will it be more difficult than other seasons to achieve it?
«This year the teams are equipped, there has been an upward leveling. The new formula of the Champions League and the Europa League will force the big teams to play more challenging matches. This could benefit the “small” teams because they will be able to take points even with the top teams. In summary, in my opinion the salvation quota will rise. We look forward with confidence, aware of our means.”
How much did Mister Davide Nicola impact his yes to Cagliari?
«It was important. I talked to him before coming here, he explained everything to me. Then I had talks with the president Tommaso Giulini and the sports director Nereo Bonato. I understood that they had faith in me. It was the driving force that pushed me to face this new adventure with great enthusiasm. I felt appreciated by society.”
Let’s leave football aside for a moment, is there a place you’ve dreamed of visiting for a long time?
«I was lucky enough to travel around a lot. My last trip I made to Japan, I was fascinated by their culture. I would like to go to Argentina where I have never been. Many tell me it’s worth it. I’m thinking about it.”
Another curiosity: the music that accompanies your day?
«I often listen to vinyl, I have a nice collection. One song in particular that I like to hear over and over again is: “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers.”
Can you play any instruments?
«No, I took guitar lessons at school but honestly I don’t remember anything anymore. If I had to take it in my hands I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Do you have any lucky charms that you never let go of?
«Yes, my shin guards. I’ve had them for about 15 years, I care a lot about them. I said to the warehouse workers: lose anything but these, for me they are truly precious objects. Superstition? Perhaps”.
His favorite team when he was a child?
«I really liked Milan and I was a fan of them. But now I am a professional footballer and my favorite team becomes the one where I play.”
His idol?
«As a figure and for what he has done in football, I admire Paolo Maldini. He was a champion on and off the pitch. I met him when he was a manager, I appreciated his manners, his education, how he relates to people. Truly a gentleman and an example for everyone.”
Can you tell us how football came into your life?
«In my family my uncle and my father played, but not at a high level. Dad was a midfielder, my uncle a left back. Since I was 5 years old they took me to the fields. Watching them play was a lot of fun, for me it was like going to a party. I never gave up.”
Do you use social media? And how much?
«I use them properly. I have to say very little throughout the day. I prefer to dedicate my free time to other things.”
A meeting you would like to have?
«I admire Michael Jordan, he made the history of basketball and sport on a global level. I saw so many videos about him, I was amazed. Being able to talk to him would be exciting for me. Who knows, one day it won’t happen.”
Its best quality?
«Humility has always distinguished me. I respect people, I listen a lot, I am calm and calm. Things that my family passed on to me and I put into practice.”
But on the pitch it’s another thing.
«When you play you want to win and you have to be determined. This seems natural to me. Sport is competition, as well as respect and loyalty. But I can say that I am a sometimes tough but fair footballer.”
Have you ever met President Tommaso Giulini?
«The first day I arrived I spoke with him for a long time. He explained to me where I had come to play and the meaning of wearing the red and blue shirt. I understood that there is a strong sense of belonging here. A chat that was of great help to me and helped me understand where I had arrived.”
Can we say that you have a special relationship with the coach?
«A beautiful moment binds us: the salvation of the last championship in Empoli at the last second. A particular emotion, a hard, complicated journey but in the end we reached the finish line.”
Last curiosity: you always say that the rossoblù fans are special, is there an explanation?
«I’ve only been here for a short time, but I’ve already understood one thing: the Sardinian fans are warm but not intrusive. For me this means being special. At the stadium they are felt both at home and away and for us footballers this is comparable to adrenaline rushes.”
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