Excerpts from the interview of Vítor Baía, vice-president and administrator of FC Porto, to Porto Canal
The absence of Euro’2004: When I was on Canal 11 as a presenter, I had a video call with Scolari and I raised the subject, but Mr. Scolari turned away and didn’t answer. I could never understand. There were several theses, but all of them were innocuous. It was his decision and that was it. He didn’t know me and that’s the only drawback I point out. If he has called me to a concentration and then make the decision. But we only met after a few years in a star game out there. He wasn’t my coach in that game, but I got to know him and it was quite pleasant: but yes, it was the worst moment, when you finish a season when you’re champion of Europe and you’re the best goalkeeper in Europe and then there’s a Euro +me in your country. Nobody could find an explanation. I remember Buffon saying at the time that he didn’t understand why he wasn’t in the group. It was the coach’s choice and that’s it.”
Reason for leaving FC Porto for Barcelona: “At the time I spoke with the president and I would always leave if there was consensus. I had the possibility of leaving freely for Juventus, my manager Luciano D’Onofrio spoke to me, but he said but I had to let my contract come to an end. I said I would never do it and I spoke to the president at the time. I told him that I loved FC Porto,. but that I would like to try something different and you could earn money. I said ‘I have the possibility to leave free, but I don’t want to, let’s go find a solution in which FC Porto is compensated’. I was the most expensive goalkeeper in world football for many years, Barcelona paid 12 million euros. It was crazy at the time. But everything was discussed, it wasn’t now I’m in my dream chair and then I slashed the president, the club and the partners with a knife. It was nothing like that. Just like my return was easy. I could have gone to Milan and not come back. My first year in Barcelona was incredible , then came the injury, new coach and the problems slogans. Even though my move to Barcelona was considered a failure, it wasn’t at all. I won everything, the Cup Winners’ Cup. There are nine players in the world who have all three”.
