Dani Gil

Latest articles by Dani Gil

‘Antonio Conte changed everything. He revolutionised football in England’ Pedro on Conte’s seismic impact at Chelsea

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Pedro was in his second season at Chelsea when the title-winning Italian arrived

EXCLUSIVE
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup trophy during celebrations after an international friendly match between Argentina and Panama at Estadio Más Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on March 23, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
‘I have no doubt Lionel Messi will play at the World Cup – he’s fully capable of continuing as a leader for the national team’ Argentina great tells FFT that Inter Miami star can keep on shining on the global stage next summer

By Dani Gil Published

In an exclusive interview, an Albiceleste hero is confident that Messi's impact will continue for some time yet

Person
Javier Zanetti celebrates with the Champions League trophy after Inter's win over Bayern Munich in the 2010 final.
‘I’m convinced it will be unforgettable’ Javier Zanetti tells FourFourTwo about joining forces with Rivaldo, Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko to launch new global tournament at Walt Disney World

By Dani Gil Published

The Argentine great is one of several footballing legends backing an event that brings together top academy teams and inspiring grassroots sides

Competition
‘Our fans died travelling to Madrid. We played to honour them and the Bernabeu applauded us’ Former Premier League striker remembers the most difficult game he ever played in

By Joe Donnohue Published

Former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle joined Spanish LaLiga side Recreativo Huelva following his spell in England

Player
‘Pep told me to enjoy it. It was a reward. I was the first Canary Islander to play in a Champions League final’ Pedro reveals calming instructions he received in biggest game of his career

By Joe Donnohue Published

Former Barcelona winger Pedro is among the most decorated footballers of the modern era

Player
‘I couldn’t speak with Mourinho when I left Roma – maybe one day we’ll have the chance to sit down, and he can truly explain what happened’ Pedro reflects on his Jose Mourinho split

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The World Cup winner left Mourinho’s Roma for cross-town rivals Lazio in 2021

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Real Madrid nemesis Pep Guardiola extends unique Santiago Bernabeu record with Manchester City

By Dani Gil Published

Once again, Pep Guardiola proved to be Real Madrid’s nemesis as Manchester City inflicted a second league phase defeat on the Santiago Bernabéu club

Coaches & Managers
‘We were all disappointed, but the real question was why Figo left. It’s just not normal for a Barcelona player to join Real Madrid’ Jari Litmanen on Luis Figo’s explosive Nou Camp exit

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Portuguese star made the controversial move from the Camp Nou to the Bernabeu in 2000

EXCLUSIVE
‘I suffered heart rhythm problems after signing for Fulham. A combination of my health issues and the team’s need for fit players meant Roy Hodgson stopped counting on me’ Why Jari Litmanen never played for Fulham

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Finn reunited with his former national team boss at Craven Cottage in 2008

EXCLUSIVE
‘To have been part of Zlatan’s career when he was still growing into the player he became, it’s something that makes me happy’ Jari Litmanen on playing alongside a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The playmaking pair line-up alongside each other during Litmanen’s second spell at Ajax

EXCLUSIVE
‘Arsene Wenger showed me the Arsenal training ground and I was convinced. Then my team-mate said he was going to Liverpool so I decided on Anfield instead’ Why Florent Sinama Pongolle turned down the Gunners

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Frenchman ended up signing for Liverpool as a 16-year-old in 2001

EXCLUSIVE
‘I dreamed of being like Ronaldo, Rivaldo or Diego Maradona and lifting a World Cup – something unattainable. But it was real’ Pedro reflects on Spain’s 2010 triumph

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Barcelona and Chelsea star was handed a place in the starting line-up for the 2010 World Cup final

EXCLUSIVE
‘I had three options: Bayern, Barcelona and Liverpool. I went to Barca – it’s a special club and I followed La Liga because of Cruyff and Koeman’ Jari Litmanen on his Nou Camp stint

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Finn ended his superlative seven-year stint at Ajax when he joined Barcelona 1999

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‘I missed Liverpool’s Champions League parade because my flight was delayed. I cried - I was part of that too’ Florent Sinama Pongolle on his 2005 regret

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Reds forward was left disappointed after Liverpool’s iconic 2005 Champions League victory

EXCLUSIVE
‘It was fascinating to watch how Bergkamp controlled the ball, managed space and stayed so calm in front of goal. That year alongside him was really valuable for me’ What Jari Litmanen learned from the Dutch legend

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The pair spent a season together at Ajax before the Dutchman moved on

EXCLUSIVE
‘I wanted to wear 77 at Liverpool to combine my idols Keegan and Dalglish, who were both No.7, but they told me it was too high’ Jari Litmanen on what it meant to sign for Liverpool

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Finnish legend made the move to Anfield in January 2001

EXCLUSIVE
Ajax players celebrate with the Champions League trophy after winning the 1995 final against AC Milan
‘I had a grass allergy a week before the Champions League final. My eyes were red, my throat was sore and I didn’t feel right but I played anyway’ Jari Litmanen on his European triumph at Ajax

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Finn was a key part of Ajax's brilliant 1994/95 Champions League win

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Behind the scenes: How PSG forward Ousmane Dembele's historic Ballon d'Or triumph unfolded

By Dani Gil Published

We travelled to Paris to peek behind the curtain of football’s biggest awards ceremony. On a night when a PSG player wins, it gets rather lively…

Player
Jari Litmanen celebrates after scoring for Ajax against Panathinaikos in the Champions League semi-finals in April 1996.
‘I went on trial at Leeds, but English football was different then. Even if they’d offered me a contract, I would have said no’ Jari Litmanen on why he initially snubbed the English game

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Finn would go on to dazzle at Ajax

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‘Without my goal against Olympiacos, who knows if Liverpool would have pulled off the Miracle of Istanbul’ Former Reds star on his Champions League contribution

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Florent Sinama Pongolle didn’t feature in the Istanbul final, but had already played his part in the famous European run

EXCLUSIVE
Pedro Rodriguez
‘Manchester United took too long to decide, the season was about to start, and I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I chose to join Chelsea instead’ Pedro opens up on snubbing the Red Devils

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Spanish World Cup winner left Barcelona for Chelsea in 2015

EXCLUSIVE
Ronaldo
‘You looked at Cafu, Rivaldo, Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos – it felt like you were in a video game’ Juan Pablo Angel on the Colombia vs Brazil game that changed his life

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Aston Villa striker played 33 times for Colombia

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‘My time at Aston Villa was very special; I loved the club from day one because of the affection from the fans, who even made up a song dedicated to my name’ Juan Pablo Angel recalls an Aston Villa game that changed his life

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Colombian arrived in the West Midlands in 2001

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‘People ask me what it was like to play with Messi – he’s one of the best of all time. Playing alongside him in that Barcelona attack for so many years was incredible’ Pedro reveals what it’s really like to partner the Argentine icon

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Pedro and Messi were team-mates in Barcelona’s first-team for nine years

EXCLUSIVE
Pedro celebrates after scoring for Barcelona against Manchester United at Wembley in the 2011 Champions League final.
‘Pep trusted me and taught me many things, not only on a professional level, but a personal one too. He’s like a father to me – he helped shape me as a person’ Pedro on Pep Guardiola’s influence at Barcelona

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Barca and Spain star came through the Camp Nou ranks during the Guardiola era

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