Roberto Carlos pays tribute to ‘mentor’ Mazzola and claims ‘Inter are extremely strong’
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Roberto Carlos, FIFA legend poses on the red carpet prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Roberto Carlos has remembered Sandro Mazzola as the man who shaped his brief but formative spell in Italian football, describing the Inter great as his second teacher.
Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit, with quotes via CalcioMercato, the former Inter and Real Madrid left-back reflected on the relationship days after Mazzola’s death at the age of 83.
“I learned a lot from Sandro Mazzola. He was practically my second teacher in Italy. Always very kind,” he said. “He had a worldwide reputation, he is one of those people you learn a lot from, and in the end you win a match and you dedicate it to him. He always told me: ‘Play with joy, play happy.’ That was the most important thing for us.”
Roberto Carlos: ‘Italy can go back to being what they were’
Roberto Carlos also gave his verdict on the state of the Italian game, with the national team beginning a rebuild under Roberto Mancini after a third consecutive World Cup absence.
“Italian football? I think the time has come for change. Italy have always been at World Cups and have always had great players. I think they can now go back to being the Italy of old.”
He was similarly complimentary about his former club, though he stopped short of backing them for the biggest prize.
“Inter are now an extremely strong team. They have always been a strong team, but I think in the last five years Inter have always been at a very high level. Against Real we saw an Inter side with the mentality to always win. I liked them a lot. Can they win the Champions League? Well, I work for Real Madrid and I think we should win it.”
Roberto Carlos spent a single season at Inter in 1995-96 before Massimo Moratti sold him to Real Madrid, a decision widely regarded as one of the worst in the club’s history. He went on to win four La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues in Spain, and remains attached to Real in an ambassadorial capacity.
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