Julio César Falcioni made a public reappearance with an emotional testimony on the program La Trinchera, broadcast by the Carajo channel. The former coach of Boca, Banfield and Independiente, among others, addressed personal, political, and football-related topics in an interview that combined rawness, reflection, and support for the current government.
"I'm very satisfied with everything that's happening today. We're moving forward," Falcioni stated, in a clear reference to Javier Milei's government direction. His stance adds to other voices from the sports world that in recent months have expressed support for the libertarian administration.
His complicated health
One of the most impactful moments of the interview was when he recounted the serious health problem that left him on the brink of death.
"I spent many days in intensive care. I spent more time on the other side than on this one. On the same day, I spent thirteen hours in the operating room. I went in for something that was supposed to take an hour and I spent thirteen hours in the operating room," he recounted bluntly.
The former coach explained that he was saved thanks to a previous medical intervention: "I was saved because of something the doctors had done. I survived. The doctor had performed the tracheotomy. Meanwhile, I was saved from not dying there because of the tracheotomy that had been done."
"At first, I had no voice, nothing. I spent almost six months without eating. Fed through tubes. A moment that's not recommended for anyone. However, here we are. Still joking around," he continued jokingly.
He also shared the other blow he suffered at the same time: "Afterwards, I had a problem with my wife as well, who went through something similar. However, she couldn't get through it. However, both of those moments, both mine and my wife's, were very much accompanied by football."
His view on young players
From a more analytical perspective, Falcioni commented on the pressure faced by young footballers, using as an example the case of Franco Mastantuono, the young prospect from River sold to Real Madrid.
"Mastantuono should be going on his graduation trip and should be with his classmates at school, and yet he has greater responsibilities of being in front of eighty, ninety thousand people, of playing or being involved in important situations, and in addition, he becomes the support for his family," he stated.
"For all of that, preparation and time, maturity, study are necessary, so it goes hand in hand with the player's tactical, technical, physical, and mental aspects in order to develop him, and that acceleration of timelines is sometimes not good," he concluded.
