Demetrio Albertini says football was his “school of life”, from the dressing room at AC Milan to becoming an executive and helping him understand the importance of responsibility, discipline and courage.

The former Italy midfielder is speaking exclusively to Flashscore to mark the publication of his new book, Le lezioni del campo (Lessons from the Pitch), which he wrote himself during the quiet hours between five and seven in the morning.

Albertini, one of the defining midfielders of his generation, describes the book as more than an autobiography. Its starting point is his experience on the Camino de Santiago, a journey that became a metaphor for both football and life. It is also dedicated in part to his friend Roberto, who travelled the Camino with him.

Albertini gave Roberto an advance copy of the book with a dedication on the Sunday. Roberto died the following Wednesday, the day the book was published.

“There are two pivotal figures in the book: Roberto and Franco Baresi,” Albertini says.

The Camino took him from France to Spain, through meetings with fellow pilgrims and the shared effort of reaching O Cebreiro and the final destination. Each stage, he says, offered a lesson: reaching one point does not mean the journey is over because another departure is always ahead.

He also wrote the book for his children, with the aim of passing on the values he and his wife learned from their families in northern and southern Italy.

“Things are achieved through effort and by maintaining a grounded, human pace,” he says. “Ambition is beautiful because it pushes you to improve, but it must never become arrogance.”

From Padova to the biggest stage

Albertini made his senior debut on 15 January 1989, aged 17, in fog and cold. He played for 15 minutes and was congratulated by a supporter who warned him not to lose his way, having seen many young players make their debuts before disappearing.

He continued studying for two years to satisfy his parents, preparing for exams independently. His move to Padova was the next major test, bringing real responsibility.

“At 17, with your debut, you write the title, but then you have to write the rest of the book through the daily life of a player,” he says.

One of the most memorable chapters came at the 1994 World Cup final in Pasadena, when Albertini walked 30 yards after scoring a penalty. It was his first penalty as a professional, and he says the decision was driven by the recklessness of being the youngest member of the squad.

He missed from the spot in 1998, and the emotional effect was entirely different. After the 1994 tournament, when he had also won the Scudetto and the Champions League with AC Milan, two artist friends painted a picture representing the season with one word: “Courage”.

“On the penalty spot, you can practise the technique, but what makes the difference is your self-awareness,” he says.

Albertini credits Arrigo Sacchi with turning him from a player who struck the ball well into a complete footballer. Sacchi told him he had to enjoy watching others play, a lesson that helped him understand the playmaker’s role.

Fabio Capello, meanwhile, had the conviction to bring him back from Padova despite advice to leave him there. Albertini says Capello combined exceptional sensitivity with young players and an ability to manage established stars, knowing when to use encouragement and when to demand more.

Franco Baresi was another central influence. Albertini describes him as the player from whom everyone learned by watching, and says he taught the squad the DNA of AC Milan. Baresi also represented the club’s history, having lived through its difficult period in Serie B before helping restore its fortunes.

Life after AC Milan

Albertini says Silvio Berlusconi was a “father president” who always found the right words to support his development. He recalls initially believing Berlusconi’s phone call to his home was a prank before later being told: “I will always be there for you.”

Berlusconi, Albertini says, transformed the idea of making AC Milan the strongest team in the world from an ambition into reality.

Leaving in 2002 was painful because Albertini had hoped to finish his career at AC Milan. However, he says he would repeat everything that followed because it changed him as a person.

He joined Atletico Madrid to experience playing abroad rather than for financial reasons, then moved to Lazio after Roberto Mancini contacted him again when he returned to Italy. Although some supporters of Roma view the move negatively, Albertini points out that he had not won the Coppa Italia before doing so with Lazio.

His time at Atalanta was motivated by affection for the club’s history and its youth sector, as well as for coach Mino Favini. At Barcelona, Frank Rijkaard contacted him after seeing him play four or five times, with the club seeking an experienced midfielder because of injuries.

Albertini won LaLiga with Barcelona and shared a dressing room with Lionel Messi, although he admits he did not initially know who the young Argentine was.

“I called a friend from Mantova, a huge Juventus fan, and told him: ‘I’ve seen the new Maradona’,” he says.

The following year, when Juventus played the Joan Gamper Trophy, Fabio Capello asked Rijkaard to give him Messi. From that point, Messi became a regular starter for Barcelona.

Albertini also played alongside Ronaldinho, whose career he believes could have lasted longer with greater discipline. He says Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have shown that elite players can remain at the highest level for 20-25 years.

“Talent is a mission,” he says. “You have it, and you should use it to bring us joy for as long as possible.”

Italian football’s challenge

As a former executive, Albertini believes Italy’s failure to qualify for two World Cups is linked to a desire to achieve the maximum with the minimum effort.

He identifies three major changes: the Bosman ruling, the European Union and collective television rights. In the past, clubs were forced to develop young players because they could select only three foreign footballers.

Italy must now decide whether it wants to be a league that develops players for others or regain its position as the leading competition, Albertini says. Returning to the top, he adds, will require hard work.

Asked what he will be when he grows up, Albertini gives a characteristically concise answer:

“The playmaker.”