Marco Brescianini admits he had an ‘eventful’ summer, but he eventually achieved what he wanted and insists he can play ‘any role’ for Italy.
New Atalanta midfielder Brescianini spoke at a press conference attended by Football Italia at Coverciano on Tuesday.
Brescianini and his ex-Frosinone teammate Caleb Okoli have received their first senior call-up.
Every word Okoli said on first Italy call-up, EPL debut and Leicester City transfer
“I was pleased. I didn’t expect to find ourselves here. It’s a big honour for me. I think the coach has considered my versatility and my professionalism. I think I can play as a mezzala [box-to-box midfielder] or a role in central midfield,” Brescianini said.
“I’ve had a gradual growth. I think this helped me. In terms of experience in big stages, I lack something, but I think I am ready, and this is the right moment for me.
“The Frosinone experience was important. It was my first real experience in Serie A, and it was fundamental,” continued Brescianini.
“The coach, the staff members, the directors, Angelozzi and the teammates were brilliant. There was a young group, we did excellent things. It was an essential step to growth, but we know how it ended.
“Frosinone’s mentality has always been about developing young players. Perhaps there isn’t even too much pressure, so the players can develop best with a great staff who oversee them. Frosinone is an example of how to develop young players.
“Spalletti watched one or two training sessions last season, but he only greeted us nothing more.”
Brescianini is a product of the Milan academy and played under Gennaro Gattuso with the Rossoneri.
“Coach Gattuso was fundamental, like other coaches I’ve had, ” said the Atalanta midfielder.
“He was the first coach who believed in me and helped me understand what playing at a senior level meant. He promoted me and other young players to the Milan first team, and I learned the attitude needed to go forward in this work.”
What does it mean to play for Italy?
“It’s a dream come true. As of today, I haven’t yet realised,” he said.
“I’ve had positive feelings after the coach and Buffon’s speech, everyone is motivated. We want to put aside the past period, taking into account the errors of the past. Now it’s up to us; we must honour the shirt and give it our all.”
Does he feel pressure after a poor EURO 2024, although he was not involved?
“Caleb and I want to show what we can do. We feel the responsibility and pressure from the country, but we’ll try to do something more because it’s clear that what’s been done until now has not been enough,” Brescianini replied.
“We must put something more on the pitch and try to be united as a team, even if some of us are new. We must have the values Italy has always had: unity, strength, cohesion, and individual quality. Each one of us must put something more; we must grow quickly.”
Brescianini once said that his role model was ex-Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. How close is he to reaching that level?
“As of today, I am not that close. I must prove so much,” he admitted.
“Consistency is the most difficult thing in football. It won’t be easy, but my target for the future is to be Brescianini, not any other footballer. I focus on myself.
“In modern football, a footballer must be an athlete. With the number of games and the intensity, physicality is important, but the head is also crucial,” he continued.
“We must balance emotions when there are judgements from the outside. Football is becoming a quick game, so we must think beforehand and predict what happens on the pitch.”
What’s his favourite role and what does he expect from Friday’s match against France?
“Right Meazzala [box-to-box midfielder] is the perfect role, even though I played every position in midfield last season, so it’s not a problem to adapt,” he said.
“I can play any role if needed. France’s attacking department is their strength, so we must pay attention to that as well as their physicality. We’ll try to surprise them, and we’ll use these days to find strategies and try to win this game.”
Did he talk about joining Atalanta with Okoli, a product of La Dea’s academy?
“Caleb has always spoken highly of Atalanta, and it is an honour that they signed many Italian players,” Brescianini said.
“I want to thank the club for their trust in me. Now, I must focus on the national team, but I want to repay Atalanta’s trust. Hopefully, we’ll continue doing great things.
“The summer has been a little more eventful. But I got what I wanted. Now, we are focused on the national team. At the end of it, we’ll return to our clubs. Now, the next game is the most important thing for the country.”
Brescianini had undergone medical tests with Napoli, but in the end, he picked Atalanta after the Partenopei and Frosinone failed to reach a full agreement.