Italian World Cup winner Cristian Zaccardo claims he has received “more than a thousand” offers after advertising for a new club on LinkedIn.
Zaccardo made headlines when it emerged he had taken his search for a new team to social media, and while the veteran defender admits “it was meant to be a bit of fun”, he has been left inundated with proposals from around the world.
Italian World Cup winner Cristian Zaccardo claims he has received “more than a thousand” offers after advertising for a new club on LinkedIn.
Zaccardo made headlines when it emerged he had taken his search for a new team to social media, and while the veteran defender admits “it was meant to be a bit of fun”, he has been left inundated with proposals from around the world.
“It was meant to be a bit of fun, but I was telling the truth: I resolved my contract with Vicenza, I’m fine and I’m ready for a new team,” he told Gianluca Di Marzio’s website.
“I primarily made the announcement for the foreign market. Everyone knows me in Italy. I learned English at school, then a bit of German and Spanish at Wolfsburg.
“How many offers? More than a thousand, but I haven’t thought about them much.
“Serious proposals? From Greece, Portugal and the Spanish second division, and from Brazil and Argentina to Australia.
“I’ve also had offers from top-tier teams who have promised to offer me drink after every victory!
“The only thing I lack is pace, but in return I offer experience, positional sense and good reading of the game.
“I’m a silent leader. It’s hard to chain someone to a wall, but I try to lead by example to the younger lads.
“I’d also play in Serie A for free, with bonuses, depending on individual objectives and those of the team I’d play for.
“I’ve played 381 times in Serie A and I want to get to 400. Do I have a place at Milan? Maybe, but not now. Still, they’re not that far away…”
The 35-year-old made three appearances for Italy during their conquest of 2006 and also played for the likes of Palermo, Parma and Milan, before spending last season in Serie B with Vicenza.