The Slovak millionaire grew up from a troubled childhood. Calzona: I went after him, I was tough

STOCKHOLM. “I followed him for a year. I was very hard on him,” admitted Francesco Calzona after the duel with Sweden.

Since coming to the bench of the national team, he has been trying to restart Tomáš Suslov‘s career. At first he was not satisfied with it. It did not work fully in training and in games.

“He takes 20 percent of what he can. It needs to improve. He must improve his performances under my leadership and his behavior outside the field,” Calzona warned him last August.

Suslov learned his lesson. A year later, according to an Italian expert, he will be “a decisive player for his team.”

“He even understood that it was for his own good,” Calzona said of his strict approach. “He started to understand what he has to give to football and how he should behave on the pitch. Today (against Sweden) he proved it,” he said of Suslov.

He appreciated Calzona’s criticism: We have a relationship above a level

According to the coach, one day he can be the main player for the national team. “Suslov was our best player on the field,” concluded Calzona.

The 22-year-old footballer respects the Italian coach. “We have an above-average relationship,” Suslov explained this summer.

He took Calzona’s negative words to heart: “I will always accept his criticism. I know he cares about me. I’m glad he said it to my face. It’s straight. I like that.”

In the match against Sweden, he showed a fine nature on the pitch. He is an emotional type. He knows how to deal with the opponent. With the ball, but also with behavior. He doesn’t know his opponents. He often wants to make unusual feelings.

He is energetic, but he often spends all his strength already in the first half. Despite his short figure (173 cm), he is not afraid to fight with stronger opponents.

He is the most expensive man in his profession

At one time, Suslov was considered the greatest talent in Slovak football. He became the youngest player in modern history to wear the most valuable jersey.

He made his debut for the Slovak national team in the League of Nations in November 2020. He was 18 years and 164 days old at the time. He broke Szilárd Németh’s record.

Today, he is one of the five most valuable Slovaks on the market. It has never been more expensive. According to the exclusive transfer mark portal, his price tag is at least seven million euros.