i just checked out the uruguayan forum in xtratime, and they really rate lugano highly, higher than montero. in 2006, after winning the copa libertadores, he was supposed to move to milan or real, but in the end fenerbahce signed him.
i know this is your job dule, but forgive me. i've found an old article/interview about him if you guys want to read.
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If you're looking for a club with several balls in the air at once, look no further than São Paulo FC. O Tricolor kicks off its 2006 Brazilian championship campaign on Sunday against Flamengo and is hoping to repeat a sensational '05 season in which it won three major titles, including the FIFA Club World Championship in December.
São Paulo is a side that depends hugely on its rock-solid defense, and Uruguayan international Diego Lugano is the standout. The highly rated center-back is one of the most sought-after defenders in world soccer and particularly impressed me after a recent training session at the club's five-star training complex.
While the rest of the squad hit the showers after a hard day's work, a fresh Lugano seemed to have just started, and continued with ball skills, stretching and 30 minutes of muscular work before taking time to do live broadcasts for various Brazilian television networks.
Finally, after he settled down, we had a chance to discuss his sudden rise to fame, his international career and life in São Paulo.
SI.com: You were relatively unknown in Uruguay before arriving at São Paulo. Did you imagine you would achieve so much success when you first arrived at the club?
Lugano: To tell you the truth, when one transfers to an important club such as São Paulo, you always dream about good things, but what happened has definitely surpassed expectation. On the pitch we won the Copa Libertadores, the Club World Championship and the '05 Paulista Championship, but also off the pitch I have earned the respect of the people and have learned a lot as a soccer player and as a person. Like I always say, reality surpassed my dreams at São Paulo.
SI.com: You have been voted the best center-back in Brazil in consecutive years, and were voted the second-best player in South America last year. How does that make you feel?
Lugano: Being awarded as the best center-back in Brazil two years in a row was huge, especially as everyone knows the best soccer in the world is played here. Players are sold here every day to whichever team in the world, and as a foreigner, it is difficult to play here and particularly difficult to succeed, so I definitely take this with much pride. The fact that my achievements at São Paulo and with the Uruguayan national team have helped me be considered in the top two players in the continent was a dream come true. I hope to repeat this again this year, although it will be difficult.
SI.com: What are the differences between Brazilian and Uruguayan soccer?
Lugano: There are huge differences in many aspects. Firstly, you can't compare structure; Brazil is a country with more than 200 million inhabitants and Uruguay barely reaches three million, and that is the biggest reason why the structure in Brazil is much superior when compared with Uruguay's. This means that the internal competition in Brazilian soccer is much greater, but that doesn't take anything away from the value of Uruguayan soccer. Although the country is small and has few investment possibilities in the game, Uruguay has always been a competitive soccer nation that has won important things and will continue to do so. Playing soccer in such a big country like Brazil is terrific, and I feel proud of being Uruguayan.
SI.com: What have you learned from Brazilian soccer?
Lugano: When you face forwards with lots of ability and teams with good technique and lots of dynamic Sunday after Sunday, week after week, your soccer almost automatically improves. You grow and adapt to where you play, and I think no matter which aspect of life you look at, if you have a goal and strive toward it with sufficient backing, it all becomes much easier. São Paulo gave me the possibility to play for my country and to triumph as a professional and I am very grateful for this. The quality of the Brazilian competition has helped me a great deal in becoming a better player.
SI.com: What do you think is your best quality as a player?
Lugano: As a center-back, I try to position myself well on the pitch. I try to use my physique and aerial strength as best as possible and try to time myself when coming out of the area to break down attacks. Off the pitch I am 100 percent professional; I dedicate myself entirely to soccer in all aspects and always strive to improve.
SI.com: Uruguay has some of the best players in world soccer, so why is it always so difficult to obtain World Cup qualification?
Lugano: In some aspects we, the players, are partly responsible. But a lot of the blame comes down to the internal problems in Uruguayan soccer, particularly because of the directors. I think the economic situation of the country also contributes to this. In the World Cup qualifiers, Uruguay organized itself in a very unprofessional manner. Today, all national-team players deserve to concentrate solely on soccer, while internal conflicts should be dealt with by other people. This lack of organization was demonstrated in the way we arrived for the playoff match in Australia. The trip there was a nightmare and it was impossible to fully concentrate on the match. These disadvantages make us feel that we are still far away in terms of organization, and although we have good players, if this is not accompanied with professionalism and structure, we can't compete at a high level.
SI.com: What can be done to correct this?
Lugano: I'm not sure where to start, but I am sure that no team in the world gives you the advantages that Uruguay gives. That's what I don't understand; maybe it has something to do with the economic state of the country. But I think there is a lack of organization and self will. It is fundamental that we begin working on improving the organization of our youth categories so that good players keep emerging. Today, Uruguay isn't the power it was 10 to 15 years ago because we don't have players of that same quality. We must look at soccer as a professional and serious sport as they have started to do in most other countries.
SI.com: You are the favorite to succeed Paolo Montero as the captain of the Uruguayan national team, and you wore the captain's band against England in a friendly match last March. How does it feel to have this responsibility?
Lugano: For Uruguay to see me as the successor of Montero is a great honor because Paolo signifies a lot for us as a player, as a person and as a leader on and off the pitch. I wanted to be like him as a player, so being compared to him is a great honor. But I don't want to be Paolo Montero; I want to be my own self and lead the national team with my own distinctive personality. And to be the captain of the national team at the age of 25 for a match against England is a bit like seeing some of my dreams become reality. It was a dream come true, but hopefully it's just the start of a lot of good moments to live with La Celeste.
SI.com: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Liverpool are all fighting for your signature, but you insist on staying at São Paulo for now. But surely you'd be interested in a move to European soccer in the future?
Lugano: Last year there were concrete offers from several of the clubs you mentioned, but at São Paulo we had a project to make a champion team and experienced an unforgettable '05 when we won everything. It was a dream come true and I don't regret the decision I made. Today I am very respected and liked at São Paulo so I don't regret anything. If one day I have to go to Europe, I will do so with lots of desire to triumph and with high expectations. But at the moment I am at the best club in the world, an exceptional club that is first-rate in all aspects, so I don't have any preoccupation and am hoping to continue at the club for a while.
SI.com: If you do move abroad in the future, which European league would you prefer to play in?
Lugano: I don't have a preference, but for my style of play and my background I think Italy would suit me best. But I am a person who can adapt to any conditions because I am a battler and I try to accomplish my objectives with lots of professionalism.
SI.com: Who were your idols when you were growing up as a soccer player?
Lugano: I admired Hugo de Leon, as he was a center-back, a leader and a great captain; he was my main reference as a youngster. But later on, when I became a professional, Paolo Montero became my main reference, as a center-back, person and as a leader as well. Those two were my main Uruguayan soccer references.
SI.com: What do you do in your spare time?
Lugano: I try to spend time with my family, my wife and my son, because here in Brazil, the continuity of matches is constant. You play 80 matches a year and have to travel a lot, so you don't have much spare time. And when you do, the family comes first, as they really need your presence, especially my son, so I try to spend as much time as possible with them.
SI.com: Other than São Paulo, which other teams do you think are candidates to win the Copa Libertadores?
Lugano: I think the other Brazilian teams are very strong, such as Internacional of Porto Alegre. Corinthians may not have much tradition in the competition, but it is a club that has invested heavily in good players. I think Chivas of Mexico is also a strong team, and you always have to respect River, a very important rival. I think it's going to be a highly disputed Libertadores. It's going to be very nice to play and I hope we can do as well as we did last year.
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i also found a youtube video of him ,but i haven't watched yet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTzDS...&search=lugano
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WHAT??? CB is the only player we must must MUST sign...there is no1 reliable after Chi and Legro (to an extent)...i think we have found a leader in Chiellini but we need to find him a partner-in-crime so to speak