Ciro Immobile, the champion in love

This article is published in the number 24/25 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until June 22, 2021

Let’s play with open cards: I recently understood (perhaps) what an offside is. Not enough to risk tactical analysis or perform technical comments with the national team’s top striker. We won’t talk much about football: “Thank goodness, what good news.”
Seems relieved, Ciro Immobile. He knows he’s the man who could make a difference to European 2020 which, postponed by a year due to Covid-19, will kick off on 11 June in Rome, with the Azzurri called to break the ice against Turkey.

Even if he does not show it, it is likely (read: sure) that he feels the responsibility.

Do you remember your very first time on an important field?
«At 17 with the Juventus Primavera: an enormous emotion. But that’s not when I felt like I had arrived ».

And when was it?
«I started to believe it a bit when I won the title of top scorer in Serie B with Pescara. But I seriously believed in it as top scorer in Serie A, with Torino ».

What does it mean to “have arrived”?
«Really know who you are and make yourself known for what you can do on the pitch. But what really matters in this game is continuity. I’ve seen many, even very good ones, who didn’t have the head to hold up at a certain level ».

He calls it a game.
He laughs. “I started at 4, at that age it’s a game”.

When did it become a sport?
“At 18, in C2, when I started playing against older colleagues who had to take the loaf home”.

How was Ciro at 4 years old?
“Very lively. He’s nice, my mom says. I always wanted to be the center of attention. Even now, eh ».

His father also played soccer.
«In the lower categories, but in the meantime he has always worked. There were 11 brothers, money was needed ».

She said: “I would like to accompany my children to their dreams, and not push them. As my parents did with me ».
«My father loved football, he could also have forced me. He is a great connoisseur, he understood that I had a gift. But he never made me feel the pressure on him. He sustained a passion that, even though it was passed on to me by him, was deeply mine. He had the intelligence to never tell me that I was better than the others ».

He didn’t say it, but he thought it.
“He’s very critical of me. A few days ago he told me: “In my opinion you have to change the way you take penalties”. I had made an important mistake… ».

He was born and raised in Torre Annunziata.
“Mine is a beautiful city, but not easy. I saw things that children should not see, I have seen friends lose their freedom, or even their lives, due to serious mistakes made ».

What kind of mistakes?
“I shop, for example. Many of them have made easy money, a lot, by selling things they shouldn’t have sold, or doing things they shouldn’t have done ».

At 15, is it easy to be seduced by that kind of temptation?
“Not as far as I’m concerned. I have always tried to have better friends than me ».

He is rich and famous: how do you recognize true friends?
«You have to trust. And hope never to be betrayed. There may be misunderstandings, moments in which things don’t go as you would like… but that’s where you recognize your friends. The important thing is to hang out with people who don’t put you in trouble for the role you have. For young people I am an example; I can’t afford bad friendships. “

You and your wife Jessica shared the Instagram account until 2018. Why?
“Look, we thought about it for a while before we split it up. People have known us on social media as the perfect family, from Mulino Bianco. It was not an easy decision ».

But I am not surprised that you each decided to have their own account, as much as that you had a shared one.
Jessica intervenes, until now by his side. Silently, a glance at him and one at Mattia, the couple’s third child: «We share everything, Ciro and I. The truth is that we joined Instagram as soon as the social network was born, and we used it to see photos of parents and friends. We were sorry to “part”. Thousands asked us if we had divorced ”.

You called it “perfect”. But isn’t there really a little crack in your family?
Jessica takes the reins of the interview: «The perfect family does not exist. There are families that are built every day. We also fight over stupidities, but we recognize ourselves united right after the discussions, in the ability to understand each other and in the strength to meet us ».

The latest discussion?
Ciro: «I’ll tell you. We fight for a very simple reason. We have three children and I always come after them. For me there are 5 minutes left at the end of the day. I would like my wife to dedicate a little more time to me. ‘
Jessica: «Oh no: the last real fight was born because I put my pajamas on the laundry basket in the bathroom. And he was pissed off. “

After he met Jessica three days, he would say, “If I have children, I’ll have them with you.”
“True. Sixth Sense?”.

Or a way to intort it?
“It could have seemed, yes. A month after the engagement, I left her because I wanted to find out if she was really the right one. You know, I’ve never been seriously with a girl. After a week it became clear to me that yes, it was her ».

In fact, you have had three children. You were also guests of the first edition of the General States of the Birth.
“We immediately agreed on this. We have a certain economic stability, a lot of love to give… Why shouldn’t we have done them? ».

Pope Francis blessed you for the fourth.
«Put in a good word too, you never know…».

You are very believers. What values ​​do you recognize yourself in?
“In respect, in humility, in solidarity with one’s neighbor. I try to be a good Catholic. Even if I often have things to do on Sundays, and I don’t go to church… ».

He also called your family “traditional”. What do you think of the other types of families that are talked about a lot?
“If you have to give love to another person, or to a child, it is right to be able to do so. We shouldn’t even talk about them as “different families” ».
Jessica supports: «The child belongs to those who raise him, in every sense. Whether it is a man and a woman couple, or not. Where there is love, there is a family ».

Footballers are very popular, but rarely make their visibility available for issues like this.
“For fear of what might happen next. Have you ever heard a footballer talk about politics? When I can sustain messages that are consistent with my thinking, I don’t hold back ».

For example?
“I took a stand against violence against women.”

Would you take a stand in support of the Zan Bill?
“Absolutely yes”.

The ultra environments are fertile ground for neo-fascist regurgitation. It also applies to his team, Lazio. Should footballers and clubs condemn them, once and for all?
«Lazio did it, as well as other teams, with a series of clear and strong announcements, reaffirming every day not to accept situations of this kind. In Torre Annunziata, then, there is the Aicovis association against violence in stadiums. I am part of it as a partner ».

Why is football supporters, unlike that of other sports, too often the author of inconceivable violence?
«Football, in Italy, is the most important sport. I will tell you: perhaps too much importance is given to him. In the end it is a game. Perhaps too much passion, too much love for a team lead to unjustifiable things. I don’t know how to give myself other explanations: it’s pure madness to kill for a football match ».

Stereotypes about soccer players abound. Let’s try to break them. The first: they always have beautiful wives.
“Oh yes, I’m going back to this.”

They say they don’t read.
“It’s not true. I’ve just finished two books by Saviano ».

They say they love the good life.
“True. I love cars: I went from Porsche to Audi, from Ferrari to the Lamborghini I have now. In the next life I could give myself to Formula 1 ».

It has broken many records. Which one do you miss?
“With personal bests, I’d say I’m really fine. Now I would like to win something important on a team level. And also with the national team ».

Could the Europeans be a good opportunity?
“I am optimistic. In such short competitions what matters is to be a good united group. We are ».

Are Italians still in love with the national team?
“Now yes, or at least I want to believe it. And I hope a little also thanks to me. This should be the goal of a player: to give emotions ».

Score a goal then. It’s easy. I understood this too.

Photo Amina Marazzi Gandolfi.
Pina Gandolfi service.
Throughout the service: dresses, Dolce & Gabbana. Gisa Rinaldi collaborated. Make-up and hair Emanuela Di Giammarco. Producer on set For Production. Thanks to Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel for their kind collaboration.

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