Andrea Cambiaso underlined his desire to stay with Juventus ‘as long as possible’ and reflected on his path to the Bianconeri first team.
The Old Lady signed the Italian left back from Genoa last year in a deal worth around €8.8m and they immediately loaned him out to Bologna. He featured heavily in Emilia-Romagna, seeing over 2200 minutes of action across 34 total appearances.
Cambiaso returned to Turin last month and will be a part of Massimiliano Allegri’s first team at Juventus in the coming campaign, giving him the chance to prove himself with a top side.
Speaking at a press conference via Gianluca Di Marzio, Cambiaso first reflected on his first few weeks with the Juventus first team.
“It’s a different thing, this shirt has a different weight. They’re a great club, I’m very proud to be here and I hope I can stay as long as possible.
“I thank Bologna, Sartori, coach Sinisa who wanted me. At the beginning things were not going well but they always helped me, I also thank coach Motta.”
He was asked how he could fit in with the Bianconeri.
“There are players with unbelievable experience, I can learn a lot and I have already seen it in these weeks.”
The 23-year-old touched on how he’ll work in a five-man defence.
“By now it’s more about space than formations, at Genoa I already played as five and last year we also started like that. By now it’s more about space occupation than formations and in this I think I’m doing well.”
Cambiaso gave his thoughts on the distance between youth sides and the first team.
“There are a lot of good youngsters in Italy. Unfortunately, maybe they don’t play as much, but that means they’re not ready because I don’t think teams don’t let youngsters play.
“I followed a different path, when I was young, I wasn’t ready to play in the first team and this path has served me well. But everyone obviously has their own path.”
He was asked if he felt disappointed when he was sent to Bologna on loan.
“No, I wasn’t disappointed, it was just as well because I came from only one year in Serie A in which I hadn’t even played that much.
“Last year in Bologna was very useful, I think I arrived here at the right time, last year I wasn’t at this level.”
The 23-year-old commented on his footballing inspirations.
“Characteristically I was a bit fragile coming out of the youth sector, playing in Serie D and then climbing the divisions was very useful because it made me hungrier. As a child I played as a trequartista, since I moved out wide, I started to follow Cancelo.”
He opened up about his personal ambitions.
“I think I can improve in everything. I’ve never felt I’ve arrived, I need to work on the defensive phase, which I’m not very good at. I have improved a lot in recent years, but I still have to do it, I have to be more decisive for the team with assists and goals.
“The coach is an important figure, he has had great champions and he will be able to teach me as much as possible, already these days he is passing me the tricks of the trade.”
Finally, Cambiaso discussed his relationship with Allegri.
“My relationship with him is very good. He told me to express myself at my best both on the right and on the left, to help the team as much as possible and to be decisive.”
Spot on Andrea!! Speak the truth.