Atalanta veteran Andrea Masiello accepts his match-fixing past means Italy is likely to ‘remain a dream’ but backs Mattia Caldara to star for Juventus.
Masiello represented Italy at youth level and is a mainstay in Atalanta’s defence alongside Caldara, who will join Juve this summer, but the 32-year-old was banned from football between 2012 and 2014 after he admitted to throwing games while playing for Bari.
“I think the national team will remain a dream for me,” he told RMC Sport.
Atalanta veteran Andrea Masiello accepts his match-fixing past means Italy is likely to ‘remain a dream’ but backs Mattia Caldara to star for Juventus.
Masiello represented Italy at youth level and is a mainstay in Atalanta’s defence alongside Caldara, who will join Juve this summer, but the 32-year-old was banned from football between 2012 and 2014 after he admitted to throwing games while playing for Bari.
“I think the national team will remain a dream for me,” he told RMC Sport.
“My past weighs on me, that’s probably why. I’m seen differently to the others, even if everyone aspires to wear this shirt.
“Atalanta youngsters? [Alessandro] Mancini’s made a wonderful impression on me. I think he has improved a lot and has a great future ahead of him.
“The same goes for Caldara: he deserves to go to a great team like Juventus, where he’s good enough to play.”