Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi asserts that Zinedine Zidane remains unwilling to address their notorious incident, even two decades after Zidane’s headbutt during the 2006 World Cup Final. Materazzi also expressed his thoughts on the recent death of Jesús de Miguel, stating, “They’re talking about involuntary manslaughter for an on-pitch tackle; what if that had happened to me?”
In a recent interview with Gazzetta ahead of the Nations League match between Italy and France at San Siro, Materazzi reflected on their infamous encounter.
Les Blues are coached by Zidane, a French legend who ended his playing career 20 years ago in the 2006 World Cup Final. Materazzi remembered the incident vividly, where Zidane received a straight red card after headbutting him during extra time.
“It’s being talked about again because Italy vs. France is being played, but with the managerial career he’s had, I think he’s put it behind him,” Materazzi noted.
Despite the passage of time, both players have not reconciled. Materazzi recounted a potential opportunity for peace in November 2010, recalling a meeting in Milan. “I walked out of the hotel after saying goodbye to Mourinho; he was parking his car at the back. When he saw me, he hesitated; he even turned to head back, but I approached him. I shook his hand and said: ‘I’m glad we’ve met here, where nobody can see us.’ He replied: ‘Don’t worry: things happen, things in the past.’ Too bad he went back on it afterward, claiming he thought I was a fan,” he said.
Despite the lingering tension from their famous incident, Materazzi holds Zidane in high regard as a coach. “I like everything. He has been in big dressing rooms; he knows players; he understands top players; he lets them be and builds empathy, which is fundamental for winning,” Materazzi concluded. “And indeed he has won a lot. When you manage Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Marcelo, Modrić, if you’re smart, you know you just have to put your experience at the team’s service. Not pretend to teach Cristiano how to take free kicks, as Benítez did…”
