Fabrizio Ravanelli says he’d score 60 goals a season if he was still playing and be worth £80m as defenders are worse

Ex-Italy and Middlesbrough striker also reveals he wants to be a manager - and of the modern era admires Zlatan Ibrahimovic

ian tuckey

Published: 23:21, 28 Jul 2017
Updated: 9:25, 29 Jul 2017

FABRIZIO RAVANELLI claims he would bag 60 goals a season if he was still playing - because there are no more world-class defenders.

The former Italy and Middlesbrough poacher, 48, also says he would now be worth "perhaps £80million at a conservative estimate".

Ex-Middlesbrough star Fabrizio Ravanelli has bared all about what he says is the lack of top-level defenders in the modern gameCredit: Alamy

Fabrizio Ravanelli is keen to translate his football passion into managementCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Ravanelli, whose 19 year career yielded 190 club goals, told the Daily Mail: "Once upon a time, it was difficult to score a goal. Now it’s easy.

"The great defenders are finished. There are no more Nestas, Maldinis or Stams. In every game you have five or six chances. It used to be one or two, maximum three.

‘This is sure. Not just me but Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, Teddy Sheringham. We’d all score more these days.

"I don’t want to be pretentious, but I scored 34 goals for Juventus in the 1995-96 season and then 31 the next season with Middlesbrough. Nowadays, I’d score 60 goals a season, 50 for sure."

Ravanelli rates Manchester United's Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his favourite goal-getter of recent years, saying: "I love him. Nothing scares him.

Fabrizio Ravanelli believes he would be twice as prolific as the top scorers in the Premier League if he was still playingCredit: PA:Empics Sport

Powerful frontman Fabrizio Ravanelli hit eight goals in 22 games for ItalyCredit: AFP or licensors

"He is strong, he struts, technically brilliant, powerful personality, everything. You can tell he loves it. When you’re on the pitch, you have to believe you are the best."
And the ex-Lazio and Derby striker insists he would be a top manager in England.

Ravanelli said: ‘The level is not important. Football runs through my blood. I would do a very good job. League Two, even, I am open.

"I had the chance to go to Leyton Orient for the last seven games last season.

"I thought hard about helping a historic English club in great need, but I could see the owner was crazy and it was a difficult situation.

"If the programme is good, I would run there now. My present and future will be England."