EXCLUSIVE: Leandro Rinaudo on ex-club Juventus, Serie A's best & being a sporting director

[p]Football in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/palermo/n38Nktmn/"]Palermo[/a] has always been a story of more lows than highs. Apart from the 2000s era under owner Maurizio Zamparini, which returned the Rosanero to the Serie A and European stages on a regular basis, the Sicilian capital's club have spent much of their history in Serie B and the lower divisions, with only occasional spells in the top flight.[/p][p]Even so, regardless of the division, football in Palermo has never been just a sport. It is part of the city, its Sundays and its neighbourhoods. It is a passion lived with the kind of intensity that turns a pitch, a ball and two makeshift goals into the dream of one day playing at La Favorita in the Rosanero shirt.[/p][p]For youngsters growing up in Palermo in the last century, however, playing often meant just making do. Few pitches, poor facilities and plenty of street football. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rinaudo-leandro/2B7nCKYF/"]Leandro Rinaudo[/a] is one of those children who made it.[/p][image alt="Rinaudo with teammates during his time at Palermo" id="8dce3922-9d33-4ea4-993d-9f715aac2f64" credit-line="MIKE PALAZZOTTO / EPA / Profimedia" guid="9b07e44c-a217-4cf1-b347-5c804c7d51e2" original-width="1400" original-height="943" /][p]Born in Brancaccio and raised football-wise on the city's streets, he turned that dream first into a professional career and then into a second life as an executive.[/p][p][b]“The reality is that I only played in the street. There weren't many pitches back then and, to be honest, there aren't that many even today," [/b]he told Flashscore.[/p][p][b]"I was born in Brancaccio, where my family still lives. My father, meanwhile, ran a business in Kalsa for more than 20 years. So I spent my days between those two neighbourhoods. That is where I grew up and started playing football."[/b][/p][p]Palermo, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/napoli/69Dxbc61/"]Napoli[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/juventus/C06aJvIB/"]Juventus[/a] were among his stops as a player; Palermo, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cremonese/KUzfp5N3/"]Cremonese[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/venezia/MkPmVv50/"]Venezia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mantova/z7WK5Pwb/"]Mantova[/a] have featured in his journey behind a desk. He is now waiting for a new project. But he continues to study, watch matches, update his database and work with scouts.[/p][p]He has one clear idea: to start again at a club where he can build something.[/p][p]"I would like a project where I could rebuild, sharing a vision, expectations and needs with the owners. I would like to make my experience available to achieve a common goal, but above all I want my own responsibilities and to work somewhere with passion, somewhere where people live for football.[/p][p]"I want something that motivates me, where new energy is needed, perhaps new rules and a new way of looking at things. That is what happened in my last few experiences, and I have to say it worked out very well for me."[/p][infobox id="34c14399-451f-4d74-969c-5a9aebcb2d2a" /][p][b]You spent this summer's transfer window working as a scout. What was that like?[/b][/p][p]"I am doing a lot to stay up to date and spending a lot of time at the computer to build up and improve my database and the way I work with scouts. Every two weeks we carry out several video analyses. I am also continuing to study English.[/p][p]"In the end, the dynamics of the transfer market are always the same: the years, dates and protagonists change, but the basic mechanisms do not.[/p][p]"During this period I have focused mainly on myself. I hope this will allow me to be even more up to date and ready when the next opportunity arrives."[/p][p][b]How much has the sporting director's job changed? How important is the executive's eye today, compared with data and technology?[/b][/p][p]"I believe video analysis of players, coaches and matches is important. Statistics are important, as are data relating to physical performance. Everything helps to minimise mistakes.[/p][p]"There are many tools available, but we must never forget the sporting director's eye, experience and ability to read the day-to-day dynamics of a club. There are situations that data or video analysis cannot capture, and that is where a person's intuition is needed. In my view, that remains decisive and must not be lost."[/p][p][b]Have you ever had a player who looked like an ideal profile according to the data and algorithms, but then turned out to be a flop?[/b][/p][p]"When a player reaches a certain level of performance technically and physically, and maintains it consistently over the years, they rarely present major problems. Personally, I have never encountered such a clear-cut situation, but I believe the data provides a very important first filter.[/p][p]"The hardest thing to identify - and this is where the sporting director comes in, with their contacts and intuition - is the player's character. These are aspects that cannot be measured, and that is precisely why the sporting director's role remains fundamental."[/p][p][b]Is there a player you would always like to have in your team?[/b][/p][p]"A player who is really impressing me and whom I would like to have at any club is (Donyell) [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/malen-donyell/KOdKXsao/"]Malen[/a] of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/as-roma/zVqqL0ma/"]Roma[/a]. He is a modern, dynamic, technical and intelligent player. He knows where to position himself, when to attack space and when to receive between the lines. I like him a lot. He was not a signing made this summer, though, because he had already arrived in January, but he is an extraordinary player."[/p][image alt="Rinaudo tackles Adriano" id="4ee30387-3cba-47ab-93d8-4859904a6739" credit-line="GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP" guid="db88fdd0-64a5-48fd-bc33-3a0eafbb5a8d" original-width="3500" original-height="2329" /][p][b]After the summer transfer window and five matchdays, which Serie A team do you think worked best?[/b][/p][p]"I still think [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter[/a] are the team to beat in terms of their squad. They have a technical, physical and experienced structure that, in my view, the other clubs do not have.[/p][p]"They did not make many moves, but the ones they did make were high-quality and consistent with the squad they already had. There is also continuity with last season's coach.[/p][p]"For me, Inter remain the team to beat today."[/p][p][b]And what impression are Roma making on you? They already look like a machine running at full speed.[/b][/p][p]"Roma look like a modern, physical, intense and vertical team, coached by an important manager who has continued to prove his worth over the years.[/p][p]"They have made a big impression on me because they reflect the kind of football I like: physicality, verticality, intensity, one-on-ones and a high defensive line. I like them a lot.[/p][p]"At the moment, I would put Inter and Roma ahead of the rest. A lot of factors will determine what happens with the others."[/p][p][b]Let's talk about Juventus, your former club.[/b][/p][p]"Juventus have been rebuilding for several years. Some attempts have not gone well, while others have worked better.[/p][p]"I believe certain decisions by the club's management could be important in starting to build properly again. Juventus also have some financial issues to resolve and are prioritising a sustainable path.[/p][p]"So I think it will take a little more time before we see the Juventus everyone knows again."[/p][p][b]Turning to Napoli, how do you assess the work done by the club and their choice of coach?[/b][/p][p]"Napoli have shown in recent years the value of the work done by (Aurelio) De Laurentiis. I have been saying it for some time: in my view, he has done something extraordinary. He took over the club and established them at the highest levels, including in Europe.[/p][p]"Allegri is an important coach, but when there are changes on the coaching side, it takes time. The problem is that in football there is often no time, because every week is an exam."[/p][image alt="Rinaudo and Inzaghi" id="3a9462c7-a173-49f7-adde-824a57e0dabc" credit-line="ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP" guid="31000da0-673b-4cc5-b197-97418dbdd9c4" original-width="2800" original-height="2043" /][p][b]And in Serie B, who will be among the leading contenders?[/b][/p][p]"Palermo had an incredible transfer window, almost like a tank. They signed important, experienced, high-profile players who have already won things. This shows how much City Football Group have invested in recent years, putting in resources, credibility and their own reputation. They are now a much more structured club, and I believe that, if they manage to win promotion to Serie A - which I hope they do - they would already be ready for the top flight.[/p][p]"I think this could be the right year for Palermo, partly because there is an atmosphere and positivity around the club that has not been seen for several years. Giovani Gardini (Palermo's chief executive) is also doing a great job in developing the club in terms of facilities and organisation. In that respect, they now have nothing to envy in other Serie A clubs."[/p][p][b]Looking back at your time as Palermo's sporting director, is there anything you would have done differently?[/b][/p][p]"Unfortunately, football is a world that forgets very quickly. When I arrived at Palermo during the City Football Group era, the team had just been promoted from Serie C to Serie B. The objective was to avoid relegation. There were many young players who had done an extraordinary job the previous year, but it was a young team with little Serie B experience. In the end, we finished level on points with Inzaghi's Reggina, who then went into the play-offs.[/p][p]"In the second year, the aim was to try to reach the play-offs and we made the semi-finals against Venezia, who then won promotion. This is often forgotten, but I believe an extraordinary job was done, achieving those results with significantly lower investment than in subsequent years. That is why I would change almost nothing."[/p][p][b]Besides Palermo, which teams do you see playing a leading role in Serie B?[/b][/p][p]"Serie B is a league full of pitfalls and, above all, unpredictability. Several teams could make an impact. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/modena/MBn63swN/"]Modena[/a], for example, are a club that have worked well. Cremonese also have great quality in terms of technique and experience. And every year Serie B produces a surprise package. It is much harder to read than Serie A."[/p][p][b]Let's finish with something personal. When you were a child, what was your biggest dream?[/b][/p][p]“My dream was to become a footballer so I could help my family. I did not want to do it just for myself, but to give my parents back everything they had given me and repay the sacrifices they had made. I also dreamed of playing for Palermo in Serie A, and I managed to do it. I also played in the UEFA Cup, scoring twice. I experienced some wonderful moments in my city.[/p][p]"But I never felt satisfied. I always wanted something more, and through training, sacrifice and everything that goes into a footballer's life, other important achievements followed, such as Napoli and Juventus."[/p][p][b]How do you pursue a career and become a professional while overcoming all the sacrifices involved?[/b][/p][p]"Everything I experienced as a footballer, I lived with tremendous intensity and passion. I believe that is the main characteristic: the way you approach things.[/p][p]"The same is true now in my role as a sporting director. I am not satisfied; I am always hungry and want to improve. When I reach a goal, I immediately think about the next one.[/p][p]"I consider myself lucky, but not because anything fell into my lap. Behind it all are countless sacrifices, mine and those of the people who have stood by me: first my family and then, for many years, my wife. There are sacrifices and work that we have carried out together.[/p][p]"Today I am looking for something that can allow me to achieve another result."[/p]