Ex Inter managing assistant Sylvinho outlines his time at the club, working with Roberto Mancini, making captain Mauro Icardi and trying to ‘coach an Italian team. In 2014-15, he was part of Mancini’s Inter team and very briefly in 2016, before going on to a role with Brazil, now the Olympique Lyonnais director.
“We have different people. Mancini is more aggressive, he’s a real winner, he knows how to fire up the players. He needs to calm down a bit, now and then. In that sense I’m more relaxed, acting more like a mediator,” Sylvinho told Sky Sport Italia.
Sylvinho added: “I met him at Manchester City, and we spent five months working together there, but he saw the passion for football in me. I had turned down his first offer to join him because after 15 years of playing football in Europe my mind wasn’t in the right place, but three years later I joined him at Inter. It was a very good decision and I had a wonderful experience. Mancini transmits so much and has a lot of knowledge that every day it is invaluable to learn from him. Italian football has improved over the years, and with good coaches, it’s still really tactical, but they’re playing the ball a lot more now, like Mancini’s Italy squad for example. We coaches will all learn from them, how to protect themselves well, but also how to retain possession. I want to be coaching an Italian team.”
Once Sylvinho was in the Inter team, it was agreed to send the bracelet to captain Icardi but he completed the move to Paris Saint-Germain today for €50 m plus bonuses.
“Icardi is a nice man, very calm, always concentrated on training and with him, we never had any problems. I ‘m happy for him if he is happy at PSG,” Sylvinho added.
