How did you feel about getting sent off at USA 94 after only being on the pitch for a few minutes?
James Avery, via email
My thoughts were all directed to the referee. And they weren’t very nice thoughts, actually. I still remember him, Arturo Brizio Carter, the Mexican.

You missed a penalty against Germany at Euro 1996 after being “rested” along with Gigi Casiraghi for the second game. How annoyed were you that this decision left you needing to beat Germany in the final group game? Did Sacchi cost you your chance at international glory?
Bryan Livingstone, Blackburn
Let’s just say that we were all a bit deluded after our elimination. It was a normal reaction, I guess, because that was one of the teams that played the best football at the moment. As for the Sacchi question, absolutely not. I’ve probably made some mistakes, too.

Ian Walker got a lot of stick from English supporters and media after you scored against him at Wembley in 1996, but I reckon it got a lucky deflection off Sol Campbell? What do you think?
Robert Wright, Hunters Hill
I remember it well. The ball definitely deflected in off Sol Campbell, even if it was only a slight deviation.

Did playing in England affect how often you were picked for the national team? Was there a bias against Italian players not in Serie A? Does that still exist?
Andrew Hull, via email
In that period of Italian football, playing abroad didn’t help at all. Now I think the reality has changed: every year there’s more Italian players going abroad, and the national manager needs to scout them all to form the best team.

You won the Footballer of the Year award after your first year at Chelsea. Did you find playing football in England easier after facing those tight Italian defences?
Adam Calvery, Detroit
I think at the beginning, the more open English football really helped me, as I was coming from tighter marking in Serie A. It was like a relief, in a sense, as the defences were not as rigid as they were in Italy. It was an advantage, but mind you, now the reality has changed also in England: I don’t think there is so much freedom and space for strikers anymore.

That backheel you scored against Norwich: was it premeditated?
Jack Mann, via email
No, it wasn’t premeditated or practised before. It was something of the moment. I went to the near post to head the ball, which was something we did practise, and then I realised it was coming too low even for me, so I improvised. And it worked.

At Chelsea, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink always looked so annoyed if you didn’t pass to him. Was he still annoyed when you got into the dressing room? Did he ever turn violent?
Peter Handle, via email
Well, on the pitch Hasselbaink always looked annoyed with everybody. He was always like that, always breaking our balls a bit and nagging. But in the dressing room he wasn’t allowed to behave like that, otherwise I would have smashed him in the face! No, really, he was a player that always gave the maximum so he always expected the maximum from his team-mates.

Is it true darts is popular in Sardinia? Are you any good? You must have got roped into a few games in England…
Adrian Brown, Lincoln
No, actually they’re not popular in Sardinia, but all I can say is that I wasn’t very good. But when it comes to sports and competitions, I’m a fast learner. I didn’t actually kill anyone, but the door and the wall at home can testify that I wasn’t that good when I started.

I understand there are drinking competitions in English pubs. So what’s your record number of pints?
Nicolas Fergero, Argentina
Hmmmm, one and a half, and I was lucky to get there! I like beer but in a small dose, a small glass and that’s it.

Which is better: Sardinian suckling pig or English roast beef?
Emma Beasley, Rochester
[Laughs] Sorry, but Sardinian suckling pig is my definite final answer on that. It’s very special and has no direct competition.

How did your relationship with Gianluca Vialli change after he became Chelsea manager? How did you feel when he picked himself over you?
Connor Harte, Brisbane
It did change and it changed a lot. I think it’s a normal thing to happen, and it is by no means easy. One day he’s your team-mate, the next he’s the manager and still your team-mate; that doesn’t happen often. I think you have to be very mature to understand the situation.

There’s a great picture of you dressed as Robin Hood. What made you pose for it? Do today’s players take themselves too seriously?
Sid Lennon, Middlesbrough
[Laughing] Oh, why, why? Well, firstly I accepted because it was a charity event and also because it was a very funny thing to do. We had decided to do this initiative with Parma in which we dressed as different characters and it was nice. Times have changed, but I don’t know if footballers take themselves too seriously now. It’s probably not for me to say.

You were voted Chelsea’s greatest player of all time in 2003 despite some stiff competition. Why do you think the fans warmed to you so much?
Roger Cole, Sydney
Listen, to be honest, I still ask myself that question every day! It was an extraordinary thing for me, probably the best prize and recognition that I got in my entire career. I really felt emotional. It was touching.

You received an honorary OBE in 2004. What did you make of it? Did you get to meet the Queen?
Richard Mackay, Bolton
I never got to meet her, but it was incredible. I didn’t expect such recognition in a million years. I received the prize in Rome from Britain’s ambassador and it was a complete surprise. If you asked me why, I don’t know. I guess they thought my behaviour on and off the pitch made me a positive role model.

Obviously Maradona was the best player you ever played with, but who is the second best?
Neil Dunstable, via email
Fortunately for me there’s a large list of names to pick. At Napoli, I’ve played with someone like Careca, who has never received proper recognition just because Maradona was there. I could say Maldini, Baresi, Baggio in the national team. I played with Asprilla, another extraordinary player. And in the Premier League, Desailly, Poyet, Di Matteo, Dennis Wise… players of high level.

Is it true that you took Tino Asprilla fishing when he was your team-mate at Parma? He said that in an interview with FourFourTwo from some years ago…
Fabio Fuentes, Maracaibo, Venezuela
It’s true, I did take him fishing once. But only once because of how he behaved! He broke all my fishing rods and made a big mess in my boat. One time was more than enough, even if he was a big fan of fishing.

Who’s the toughest defender you’ve played against?
David Tanner, Gillingham
It’s a 50-50 between Franco Baresi and Pietro Vierchowod. After a game against both, your feet need loads of ice and anti-inflammatories.