Lorenzo Pellegrini missed EURO 2020 due to injury and is eager to make up for it this summer with Italy. ‘I see a great deal of unity.’
The Azzurri are currently preparing for their warm-up friendly tests against Venezuela on Thursday and Ecuador on Sunday in the United States of America under coach Luciano Spalletti.
“We were able to talk over these last few months and the coach knows how much I wanted to be here,” Pellegrini told RAI Sport.
“Now I am here and we have the opportunity to work well ahead of what awaits us.”
The midfielder has not been called up for the Nazionale since the Nations League third place final against the Netherlands in June, while his last start was a year ago against England.
Pellegrini was originally in the squad for the EURO 2020 tournament, but was ruled out by injury, so had to watch as his teammates lifted the trophy at Wembley Stadium.
“At the end of the day, perhaps that’s how it had to be, as I was so glad to see the lads win. They also made me feel like I was part of the group, even though I was at home and they were at the Euros.
“Now this is the last get-together before the Euros, we want to work hard and do what the coach says.”
Pellegrini had been struggling for form at Roma under Jose Mourinho, but made a huge leap forward since Daniele De Rossi took over.
“I think the coach is doing well, that is obvious to everyone. We are getting results and performances, we’re working well and very enthusiastic, but the truth is that we have achieved nothing yet. We just got things back on track, but there are many games to be played before the end of the season.”
While Italy go into the tournament as reigning Champions of Europe, they then failed to even qualify for the 2022 World Cup, so how will they do in Germany this summer?
“I don’t think anyone can make predictions right now on the Euros. What I can say is that I see in this Nazionale a great deal of unity and the joy of being here, so we will prepare to give everything we’ve got.
“We will see if that is enough in June, but I can be certain that nobody will ever leave the pitch without having given their all.”
⚽️ #Nazionale
Dopo alcuni infortuni ritorna in nazionale Lorenzo #Pellegrini per la doppia amichevole negli Stati Uniti
Intervista di @AleAntinelli @Azzurri pic.twitter.com/G59aMikJdb
— RaiSport (@RaiSport) March 20, 2024