How much truth is in the rumour that Roman Abramovich tried to buy Cagliari just to re-sign you? How close did you get to going back to Stamford Bridge?
Dominick Cook, Rome
I’ve heard that rumour, too, but I can’t confirm it. I honestly don’t know how much truth there is in it, but what is true is that he has made an official approach to Cagliari to buy me back.

How envious are you that you didn’t get to play in the Abramovich era? How do you think you would have fitted in under Jose Mourinho and alongside the likes of Didier Drogba?
Gordon Mantle, Weymouth
Envious? No, not at all. I’m always happy about what I did and I don’t have regrets in my career. My years at Chelsea were very important for me, and even if I didn’t win the Premiership, we had great results and I’m very happy about that part of my life. As for the current squad, I don’t know how I would have fitted in, but I’m very confident of my capacity to adapt, so I presume I would have definitely settled well under Mourinho too.

You’ve had a great career, won a number of trophies and played with some top players. So why haven’t you written an autobiography yet? What do you think of players releasing books while they’re still playing?
Martin Tucker, Boston
I guess I haven’t released a book because I like to give my best in everything I do. When I was a player I never felt the motivation to write a book, let alone a controversial book or a thin book full of press speculation, just for the sake of selling copies. I’m not ruling out the possibility of writing my biography in the future, but if I ever do it, I’d like to publish one that sends a message to the young players, one that clearly states the things that I’ve learned and could help young footballers grow up.

We know that you’re working with the Italian U21 team, but what do you really do? And what’s your goal in football now that you don’t play anymore?
Pasquale Torriani, Milan
I’m working as a sort of assistant to Gigi Casiraghi, the manager, and… [thinks for some seconds] I’m trying to learn, to find out, to understand if I’m capable of becoming a manager in the future. We’ll see; it will depend a lot on my own improvement.

As a coach what do you do when you’re not happy with a player? I can’t imagine you having a go at anyone!
Giles Craig, via email
Well, if I ever have to get angry then I can, believe me, that wouldn’t be a problem. But I also think that for every problem there’s a solution, so if there’s a better way to work things out, I’m sure I’ll try that first.

Have you been on the phone to Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet, swapping managerial tips?
Neil Addley, Watford
Yes! We call each other quite regularly and have good talks.

Many would argue that Italy is now Europe’s third best league after the Premiership and La Liga. Do you agree?
Dennis Holt, via email
In the last years, I’d agree that Serie A has lost the importance it had, especially if you start comparing it with the late-’80s and early-’90s. It’s also a problem of money, I presume. However, despite everything, Serie A remains a world-class league. The fact that we won the World Cup and an Italian team just won the Champions League backs up my opinion.

Everyone knows you’re one of football’s nice guys, but what’s the worst thing you’ve done? Steal some sweets as a kid? Use your fame to get out of a speeding ticket? There must be something…
Rick Hammond, via email
There’s more than something [laughs and laughs]. There’s more than something, believe me, but I always try to hide it, not to let anybody know about it. But I’ll give you one. One day, I hadn’t been selected for a game at Chelsea and I was sent to the stands. I wasn’t really happy about it and so I watched the first half and then left at half-time. It wasn’t a nice thing to do. And I wasn’t very happy about my behaviour.

How much do you miss playing? Are you still in good shape if we want to invite you for a game?
Alberto Mennini, Ravenna, Italy
I still play with friends and sometimes I train with our players, and as long as I have good midfielders willing to run for me, I’m happy to play!

Would you like your sons to become football players?
Gianni, Turin
As a father, all I want is that they achieve what they really want to do in life. I just hope they have the luck I did, because I did what I always dreamed of doing.