6ft 6in Premier League target reveals pint sized Ballon d’Or winner taught him key skill he never learned

Having a Ballon d’Or winner as a manager would bode well for any player, particularly those just starting their careers.

This was very much the case for Udinese defender Thomas Kristensen as he once worked under Italian football legend Fabio Cannavaro.

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After a spell at Inter Milan, Cannavaro joined Juventus and won two Serie A titles, though both were revoked amid the Calciopoli scandal.

He later won the 2006 World Cup as Italy captain, before becoming just the third defender in football history to win the Ballon d’Or.

Cannavaro followed in the footsteps of the German duo Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer for the elite individual accolade.

Real Madrid and a return to Juventus followed before his retirement, after which he turned to coaching and joined Udinese in 2024.

Kristensen joined a year earlier and speaking to talkSPORT at the club’s international media days event, he recalled the icon’s guidance.

The 24-year-old was asked if someone like Cannavaro could teach him something he didn’t necessarily think about, and said: “Yeah, exactly.

“This was also a beautiful thing about the first season, we struggled a lot, but it was a very positive and incredible moment.

“The only [Italian] defender to win the Ballon d’Or, and obviously that’s a huge thing for me as a defender.

“I took a lot of learning from him, and yes, he had a few small techniques in terms of defending aerial duels and this, which I’ve never paid too much attention to before I heard it from him.

“You could immediately feel and see the experience he came with, the knowledge he came with as a former Ballon d’Or winner, as a defender. He taught me a few technical things.”

AFP

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No height? No bother

Regarded as one of the greatest ever defenders, Cannavaro holds a huge standing in football that’s aided by his Ballon d’Or triumph.

However, despite his technical ability and pace, many would consider him to not necessarily be the typical go-to profile of a centre-back.

Cannavaro stands at around five foot nine which, compared to most players in his position, makes him one of the smallest to ever do it.

But his height was evidently not an obstacle during his playing career, and it still allowed him to pass on his knowledge to Kristensen.

When asked about learning aerial duels from his former boss, the six foot six defender said: “Yeah, he was not the tallest himself…

“So, he had to use some other techniques. I don’t need them as much as he did.

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“But, yeah, set off with one foot, and just the technique of turning around and not going into the rucks with the front and maybe lose the grip underneath you.

“And even though you win the ball, where you’re headed to, it can very fast go back again. And if you don’t control your feet and your body position, you’re done, you’re out of the game.

“So, small things like this that I never really paid too much attention to, never got taught before.”

Premier League interest

Now coming to the end of his third season at Udinese, Kristensen has already attracted the eyes of clubs in the English top flight.

Reports linked him with moves to Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

Although he remained in Italy, he has kept a Premier League move in his sights having told talkSPORT it would be a dream.

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“Some of it I got included into,” the Dane said when he addressed the speculation. “My agent is English, but no, they take care of this.

“When the serious stuff comes, of course we sit around the table and look if it has to be the right match as well, and the right timing.”