Calcio Debate: The Best Defender In The World Alessandro Nesta – Italy Needs You Back

2009 has been quite a year for comebacks in sport. Lance Armstrong returned to cycling after four years to finish third in the Tour de France. Kim Clijsters won the US Open as a mother, two years after retiring from tennis. Even 40-year-old Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher was set to replace the injured Felipe Massa for Ferrari until the German failed a medical.

You can now add Alessandro Nesta to this list.

At the beginning of May this year, the Italian media was full of speculation that the 33-year-old was set to retire from football. Due to chronic back problems, the Roman’s last official appearance had been during a 3-1 defeat to Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo on May 11, 2008. Nesta had featured in a friendly against FK Tirana in October 2008 and seemed close to making his comeback, but suffered a relapse and underwent surgery in February.

After a year away, Nesta did finally return to the pitch as a substitute for the final 13 minutes of the last game of the season as Milan won 2-0 at Fiorentina. Nevertheless, serious doubts remained over his fitness. Some even suggested that this was a farewell outing.

Few could have predicted that five months later we would be talking about a Nesta who not only looks as healthy as ever, but is also back on his rightful throne as the best defender in the world.


The veteran has played all of Milan’s 13 matches at home and abroad, and has already featured in four Goal.com Serie A Teams of the Week, one Champions League Team of the Week, as well as a number of honourable mentions within these selections. All this, despite the Rossoneri often struggling this term with what some believe to be their worst squad in 25 years.

“As for Nesta, what more can I say? He has become far more than a player for us and he's indescribable. He needs a halo at the moment,” enthused Milan coach Leonardo yesterday.

“He started this season not really knowing if he would ever play again.”

That Milan now find themselves in joint-fourth position in the Campionato, and in a strong position to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League following the 3-2 Real Madrid win in Spain, is mainly thanks to one man – Nesta. Take the World Cup winner out of this Milan team and one shudders to think what would happen.

For attackers, a fully fit Nesta is still unbeatable in every department. You can’t outpace him, you can’t outskill him, you can’t outjump him, you can’t outpower him, you can’t out-think him. Quite simply, the former Lazio captain is the perfect defensive specimen. The only criticisms that have been directed at him during his career were his reluctance to communicate on the pitch, the infrequent lack of concentration, and, of course, his injury proneness that ravaged his participation in three successive World Cups for Italy.

This forced Nesta to announce his retirement from the international arena shortly after the 2006 World Cup triumph, a success he only played a bit-part role in after missing the entire knockouts with a groin problem.

The defender’s return to brilliance this season, though, has led to the whole of Italy calling for Nesta to return to national duty in time for the World Cup, and this author adds his name to those pleading for a comeback.


Nesta has so far resisted all calls. Following last night’s super show against Chievo where he was the undoubted man-of-the-match after scoring an unlikely match-winning double in the last nine minutes to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory, Nesta again reiterated this stance:

"I won’t come back, not because I don’t want to, but because it puts stress on my body,” he explained.

“I know what people have been saying, but I know that [Marcello] Lippi understands where I am coming from, so I look forward to cheering for Italy in South Africa."

How Italy could do with Nesta. When you look at the backup options to centre backs Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini, there are real worries over what will happen to the Azzurri in South Africa should one of the Juventus pair be suspended or injured. It is very rare for a country to go through an entire World Cup with the same centre halves. If Italy are to go far in the tournament, they may have to use a Nicola Legrottaglie, Marco Materazzi or Alessandro Gamberini. Against a Spain or Brazil calibre-opponent this could be catastrophic.


Nesta will offer Italy so many more options. Lippi could choose to resurrect one of football's greatest ever centre half partnerships in Nesta and Cannavaro, switch Chiellini out to left back, and if need be move Fabio Grosso into midfield. Nesta will also allow the 36-year-old Cannavaro the odd day-off, which could prove useful in the latter stages. Most importantly, he would strike fear into opposition attackers.

Consider how much stronger Italy will be if they travel to South Africa with the best defender in the world (Nesta), the best playmaker in Italy (Francesco Totti), and the best current player in Serie A (Antonio Cassano) – La Nazionale would be a match for anyone. Unfortunately, the only player likely to feature out of the three is Totti – and even this hinges on the Roma star’s unreliable fitness.

But there are still a good six months to go until Lippi names his World Cup squad, which means we have half-a-year to convince Nesta out of retirement. Lippi will have no problem in recalling the Milan man, even if he plays in none of the pre-roster warm-up matches. After all, this is exactly what will happen with Totti and Amauri. I'm sure no one will mind if Nesta plays seven games in South Africa before retiring again for good to "preserve his body" for Milan.

If 2009 has been a year of sporting comebacks, Italy fans will be hoping that we witness one more great return in 2010 – that of Alessandro Nesta in an Azzurri jersey.

What are your views on this topic? Is Alessandro Nesta the best defender in the world? Do you agree that he should return for Italy? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com