The Torino president: “It’s in everyone’s interest that the national team performs well right from the Nations League. If this is my last year with the Granata, I’ll make it a magnificent one.”

The first Sunday in August was no day of rest: Torino were involved in a friendly match, to be followed remotely, then an evening event in Versilia to discuss Toro, the national team, sports politics (and more), and dreams. Urbano Cairo witnessed the team’s success in their latest test and will return to Milan today to monitor the club and his businesses even more closely. He also wants to keep an eye on the evolving landscape of football. Cairo is one of the most outspoken Serie A presidents on current affairs. After the last League assembly, which featured exceptional guests (federal president Malagò, and the new but already former directors Maldini and Leonardo), he was the only one to speak out. Yesterday he recalled: “We know how things went. Malagò first wanted to appoint the technical director, committing to convince Maldini, and then everything fell apart over the choice of Pirlo and the issue of the Russian sponsor linked to betting. Malagò was the candidate for federal president of the Serie A League, to which other components were then added. Today he is responsible for the choices, and from my side, he receives my best wishes; it’s in everyone’s interest that things go well. And right from the start: the Nations League is demanding and important for the ranking. We’re coming off three missed World Cups, a disaster.” 

Conte—  

This is why Cairo would have backed Conte as national team coach: “I would have chosen him because it’s necessary to give a strong impetus to the activity, so that we start well immediately. I respect Conte; he had already done well with the national team, a national team that wasn’t anything special, especially in attack. He was motivated; he could have been the right man. True, in the League there was a preference for Conte as coach, but Malagò chose differently.” The political front of football can also extend to the clash between Infantino’s FIFA and UEFA. Cairo continues: “Infantino has done some good things, such as developing the collection of TV rights for the World Cup and the Club World Cup; others, honestly, I haven’t understood. Starting with the lifting of Balogun’s ban: football must be untouchable. And then the idea of selling World Cup shares to external investors, a decision taken so suddenly, almost overnight. No, decisions must be shared without following a personalistic policy.” 

positive signs—  

In twenty days, the league season will resume, a period the president will use to support the Granata project, including with upcoming signings. The new face is Ignazio Abate, an emerging coach. From here, he receives a new endorsement: “I like Abate; he’s a coach with ideas, desire, ambition, and temperament. I like him a lot,” Cairo reiterates. “With him, who had Franco Baresi as his coach in the Milan Primavera, we remembered the great man and champion he was. Ignazio confirmed to me that he was a man of few words, who led by example.” Then, regarding the team: “We’re in August football, and I’m happy with the victory in England against Burnley, but it’s still too early to make judgments. Good additions have already been made to the squad, and we will make more. Even though I’ve said I might sell the club, it doesn’t mean I’ll be less committed to building the team; in fact, I’ll do it even more so: if it’s my last season, I want to make it a magnificent one and then hand over a strong group to whoever arrives. Perhaps then people will say my Toro wasn’t so bad after all…” 

21 years of Toro—  

The question of the club’s future is immediately further explored: “In September, it will be 21 years of owning Toro. I’ve owned the team longer than one of my sons, who is 20, has been alive. I took the club from bankruptcy and have done good things and some less so. For fifteen years, we predominantly lived in the top half of the table and twice in Europe, but I understand that people want something more. We all live on dreams, myself included. If someone comes along who is rich enough to maintain the team, and a fan, because you have to be, I am willing to sell. Everyone knows what they can do: Como in three years invested €400 million; I don’t have that, should I be crucified for it? I haven’t had any written offers yet; when they arrive, I will evaluate them. Reluctantly, but I don’t want to clip anyone’s wings: I will step aside and remain the number one fan.” 

projects—  

He won’t take time away from Toro and RCS with politics: “Me entering politics? I might even like it, but I won’t do it. I have to consider the companies I own and our 4,500 employees. I read Corriere della Sera at midnight and Gazzetta dello Sport immediately afterwards. The digital trend is inevitable, but print figures are declining less rapidly than anticipated. However, we need to maintain a high standard. And then I have other adrenaline-fuelled projects.” 

This article was originally written in Italian by La Gazzetta dello Sport editor. The English version has been generated using AI translation tools. If you notice any translation errors or have suggestions, please contact us at iniziativegazzetta@rcs.it

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