Alessandro Diamanti says Alberto Gilardino “made the right choice” snubbing Inter and Lazio for Palermo.
The veteran striker had been linked with top clubs over the summer, but opted for regular playing time in Sicily.
“Gila turned down Inter and Lazio so he could share the Palermo project,” friend and former teammate Diamanti told Mediagol.it.
“I spoke to him and he said he’s very happy with the Rosanero, having signed a three-year contract.
Alessandro Diamanti says Alberto Gilardino “made the right choice” snubbing Inter and Lazio for Palermo.
The veteran striker had been linked with top clubs over the summer, but opted for regular playing time in Sicily.
“Gila turned down Inter and Lazio so he could share the Palermo project,” friend and former teammate Diamanti told Mediagol.it.
“I spoke to him and he said he’s very happy with the Rosanero, having signed a three-year contract.
“In my view he made the right choice and a perfectly understandable one, because he knows that the only way to be decisive in matches is to play regularly.
“It is better to be a protagonist at Palermo rather than sit on the bench at Inter and Lazio.”
Diamanti also had some advice for Gilardino’s teammates on how to best provide service for the centre-forward.
“There are few players around like him who are still hungry for victories despite the passing years. I was able to share some experiences with him at Bologna – where the current Palermo Coach Davide Ballardini was in charge – then Guangzhou Evergrande and Fiorentina.
“He is a lad who loves to look after every detail, improve constantly and keep himself in shape. He’s also a great friend.
“I am sure he’ll continue to build the partnership with Franco Vazquez, a player with great intuition who knows how to duet with a striker, as we saw last season with Paulo Dybala.
“The positive aspect is also that Vazquez needs to be doubled up by markers, so frees more space for Alberto. When I played with him, every ball I touched was aimed at getting him to score. That’s not because we are friends and I wanted to do him a favour, but rather I know when he’s in front of goal, he doesn’t miss.
“If Gila starts every week, he’ll score you 15-20 goals per season. He is right to hope for a Euro 2016 call, because there aren’t many strikers around as clinical as him. Few can have his statistics, nose for goal and ability to be lethal in front of goal.”