IT WAS A WORLD RECORD TRANSFER.BUT I NEVER WANTED TO SIGN FOR MILAN.THEN CAME MY CRASH.I COULD HAVE DIED.

My name is Gigi and I'm a normal guy. I have friends and I spend time playing billiards with them it's one of the things I like the most.

They say I'm pretty good I am, but only as long as those who are really good don't take to the table, then things get difficult.

I like billiards a lot - it's a laugh and a way to spend time with those I care about. I go for dinner or spend holidays with them, too.

My life isn't mundane, though. I'd describe it as cosy. Yes, it's a quiet life, but this is how I am and how I like it. I've been an important footballer and people still remember me for that. They used to talk a lot about me back then, but it was their will and not mine - if you ask me, things could have been much quieter around me. Most footballers like to take centre stage - I never liked it.

Yet it always happened nevertheless, because of my personality and the style of football I played. That was just me. I've always done what makes me feel good, and at that time my behaviour was a bit unusual, so people kept talking about it. Long hair, a diamond earring and all those little things that a 20-year-old boy does to enjoy life. Even driving a nice car, but I'll come back to that...

Nowadays, every player has tattooed arms and a funny haircut, everyone does whatever they want. It's all normal and no one says anything. I respect that. I never liked to show off. I don't even like to do interviews. I do them because I know that some things need to be done and people are curious. It would also be wrong to completely forget about my past, so here we are.

Really, the only thing I wanted to do was play football, to be on the pitch and live those emotions. The rest didn't matter to me. I had such a passion for football that I carried on playing until I was past 40 years old, just for the pleasure of it. I played for Carmagnola, my hometown, not far from Turin - playing football still gave me joy. I went on as long as I could, then all of the pains in my knees, in my back and everywhere in my body told me I'd be better off quitting.