MILAN – This is what was said by Fabio Cannavaro and Rino Gattuso earlier today as part of the TIM Cup handover ceremony:

Fabio Cannavaro: “I won the Italian Cup twice with Parma and both triumphs meant a lot to me. The TIM Cup is even more beautiful than when I last lifted it! Two strong teams will go head to head in this year’s final. Overall, I don’t miss being a footballer. Rino and I both won a lot during our careers, but we have since undertaken a new career path.”

Rino Gattuso: “I am very proud to have won this trophy back in 2003. When I wore the Milan jersey I felt like a captain, fan and president! For me it was a dream that lasted 14 years and I have always felt proud to play for the club. Football has always been my life and I had the good fortune of turning my passion into my job.”

The Lega Serie A President Maurizio Beretta was also part of the event that saw the TIM Cup trophy make its way down via high-speed train from Milan to Rome where the final will be played at the Olimpico between Milan-Juve on May 21. These were his comments: “I want to thank Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso and the two finalists, Milan and Juventus, for the enthusiasm shown for this initiative. The TIM Cup is by now an asset of our game and the new formula has revitalised interest and TV viewers in this competition. We’re grateful to Cannavaro and Gattuso for their passion for the game and the fair-play they have always shown and which brought the best out of our championship.”