Paolo Condo Livres

"In April 2011, Barcelona and Real Madrid faced each other four times in just 18 days: twice in the Champions League semi-finals, once in La Liga, again in the Cope del Rey. Those 18 days descended into a strained, feverish period that define an era for one of football's most intense rivalries. Barcelona was Guardiola's past and his present. Born and raised in Catalonia, he had grown up at the club, eventually witnessing the footballing philosophy of his idol, Johan Cruyff, first-hand. With the Dutchman as manager and Guardiola his midfield conductor, Barcelona lifted their first European Cup crown in 1992. Nearly 20 years later and and it was Guardiola implementing Cruyff's teachings in his own gifted and independent way; a methodology which had already led the club to more dizzying success. Mourinho - a man with his own history at Barcelona - had arrived at Real after the triumph of his treble-winning season at Internazionale, where he became the first man to truly upset Pep's dream team. Mourinho was attempting to stamp his authority on his new dressing room in Madrid, overhauling the natural hierarchy inside it by establishing himself as its absolute leader. He was doing his utmost to take Los Blancos back to their former glories. Both coaches had their own warriors on the pitch. Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets were seen as the proud Catalan nationalists, while Sergio Ramos was viewed as loyal to the Spanish crown. Pepe was the cold, ruthless assassin faced with the unstoppable Lionel Messi and his dancing feet. Each one of them would put their bodies on the line for their side during this quick-fire burst of matches, during which tension would be raised to levels never seen before on a football pitch in the modern era. Observing this extraordinary cast was Paolo Condo, one of the most highly regarded and well respected authorities on European football. His book The Duelists is his magisterial study of this clash between two of the world's greatest managers, both on and off the pitch. His grasp of this titanic battle's twists and turns as well its deeper symbolism make this book a masterpiece of the literature of sport."--Provided by publisher

"L'infanzia in via Vetulonia, i primi calci al pallone, la timidezza e la paura del buio, la vita di quartiere in una Roma che forse non esiste più. Gli amici che resteranno gli stessi per tutta la vita. Gli allenamenti a cui la mamma lo accompagnava in 126, asciugandogli i capelli con i bocchettoni in inverno. L'esordio in Serie A a 16 anni in un pomeriggio di marzo del 1993 a Brescia, con i pantaloni della tuta che al momento di entrare in campo si impigliano nei tacchetti; il primo derby, il primo gol, il rischio di essere ceduto alla Sampdoria prima ancora che la sua favola in giallorosso possa cominciare. E poi la gloria: caso più unico che raro di profeta in patria, venticinque anni con la stessa maglia, capitano per sempre, un palmares che annovera un epico Scudetto, due Coppe Italia e due Supercoppe Italiane, oltre ovviamente al Mondiale 2006 conquistato da protagonista con la Nazionale. E ancora il matrimonio da sogno con Ilary Blasi, la vita mondana attraversata sempre con leggerezza, con autoironia, con il sorriso grato di chi ha ricevuto in dono un talento straordinario e la possibilità di divertirsi facendo ciò che più ama: giocare a pallone. Con l'espressione eternamente stupita del ragazzo che una città ha eletto a simbolo e condottiero, oggetto di un amore senza uguali. Fino al giorno del ritiro dal calcio giocato, e di un addio che ha emozionato non solo i tifosi romanisti ma gli sportivi italiani tutti. Perché Totti è la Roma, ma è anche un pezzo della vita di ognuno di noi."-- Provided by publisher