I'm a Serie A hardnut who called Di Canio for a Celtic favour (2025)

Giuseppe Fornaciari saw off the likes of Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola in Italian football's glory days

Hard nut Giuseppe Fornaciari can boast putting a muzzle on some of Serie A's greatest ever million pound superstars.

In the mid 90s the no nonsense defender tussled with the likes of Gianluca Vialli, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianfranco Zola in the Italian top flight's golden years.

Everywhere you looked their were brilliant players with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Baggio and George Weah also gracing the peninsula.

Fornaciari had seen it all during his time at Foggia and Naples club Avellino but come the November of 1996 he had set his sights on one thing and one thing only: Celtic and Scottish Premier League glory.

The Hoops were attempting to fire on all cylinders to spark a resurgence in the midst of Rangers' dominance.

The Ibrox club had just clinched their eighth title on the trot with the green and white half of Glasgow desperate to knock them off their perch.

Fornaciari believed his experience would make a difference and was granted a week training at Parkhead to prove himself and try and win a contract.

This came despite Hoops manager Tommy Burns admitting he didn't "know a great deal about him" having been recommended to him by a club scout in Italy.

The centre half was sold on the move during a chat with a famed fiery Italian well known by Scottish football fans. Speaking to Record Sport Fornaciari said: "I've been really impressed by Celtic and I've enjoyed my time here so far.

"Before I arrived I spoke to Paolo Di Canio and he told me very nice things about the club and said he's very happy here.

"I've been surprised by the club but in a positive way. The stadium is different class and the fans, which Paolo told me all about, are just amazing.

"I was at the friendly against Barcelona and I couldn't believe how passionate they were.

"They are great supporters and I'd love to play in front of them.

"I want to belong to Celtic and the fans because they are so special."

The then 27-year-old defender had attracting interest from several clubs down south and back home in Italy. But Paradise was set in his heart.

He added: "I've played against a lot of big names over in Italy like Vialli, Ravanelli and Zola - and of course Paolo as well!

"They are all very good players but I always tried harder against them and it made me play better.

"There are a lot of big clubs over there but Celtic are known all over the world. They won the European Cup against Inter Milan - and no-one forgets about teams like that.

"All the players have been really friendly towards me and have welcomed me.

"In football every player speaks the same language so I'm able to know what the players are doing on the park.

"The training has also been good and I'm hoping to play in a couple of reserve games this week and hopefully convince Tommy Burns that I can play for his club."

Fornaciari was impressed by the Italian factor in Glasgow since Paolo swapped AC Milan for Scotland's west coast.

He had already marked out a favourite hot spot in the heart of the city.

He said: "I enjoy reading in my spare time because I think it's important to know what's going on in the world.

"I also like listening to music but I haven't eaten much Scottish food since coming here.

"I've been eating in an Italian restaurant, Il Pavone in Princes Square, where a lot of Italians eat. I've been surprised how many Italians there are in Scotland.

"Now I'm just crossing my fingers that I'm going to be one of them."

The Scottish Champions managed to finally regain league glory in 1998 in dramatic fashion.

But the Italian they had to thank for their success was Marco Negri, who netted 32 times in a stunning season for the Light Blues.

Pleas to Burns fell on deaf ears and Fornaciari instead signed with SPAL back in Italy.

Di Canio had also left by then having signed with Sheffield Wednesday to begin his love affair with English football.