Gentile: Keegan was a gentleman, I can't forget his praise; I most want to study Yamal

Former Juventus and 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning Italy defender Claudio Gentile recalled his clashes with Keegan in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Gentile recalled an anecdote with the former England forward: "I immediately remembered a match between England and Italy in 1977. As we were leaving the field, Keegan came up to me and said in half English, half Italian: 'You are strong.' I have always proudly cherished that compliment. We are talking about a very strong player, someone who has won two Ballon d'Or awards."

When asked about his famous jibe, he said: "Yes, I did tell him: 'If I marked you every Sunday, you wouldn't win the Ballon d'Or.' I was joking, but I also gave Keegan a hard time." Recalling their rivalry, Gentile said: "I stuck to him like a stamp, not letting him turn. He was fast, technically skilled, and a gentleman. After the match, we even exchanged jerseys." In the eyes of the former Juventus defender, Keegan ranked third among the strongest forwards he had faced: "First, I would choose Maradona, he was the strongest. Second was Zico, and then Keegan."

Speaking about current football, Gentile also named the opponent he would be most interested in studying: "I would most like to study Yamal, he would keep me awake at night. Diego was an absolute superstar, but Yamal is young and modern, with terrifying speed and skill. Every time I watch him play, I think: how can I defend against him? Sitting on the couch, everything looks simple, but these fast players can drive you crazy."

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