Diego Perotti reveals he almost retired due to injuries, but now wants to “win with Roma” and Luciano Spalletti.
The 27-year-old was all set to be a superstar at Boca Juniors and Sevilla, but saw his career slide until joining Genoa for just €350,000 in July 2014.
“We’ll never know what my career could’ve been like without the injuries,” he told Pagine Romaniste.
Diego Perotti reveals he almost retired due to injuries, but now wants to “win with Roma” and Luciano Spalletti.
The 27-year-old was all set to be a superstar at Boca Juniors and Sevilla, but saw his career slide until joining Genoa for just €350,000 in July 2014.
“We’ll never know what my career could’ve been like without the injuries,” he told Pagine Romaniste.
“I am fortunate enough to have gone through that ugly moment and rediscovered my form, because I knew that I could play football if I was in good shape.
“I was able to turn that around and reach a great side like Roma. I don’t want to think of what could’ve been, because maybe I wouldn’t be here now. I am very happy at Roma.
“I wanted to be a player since I was born. My father played football and had already stopped when I was born, but I remember at the age of five or six I’d see him playing in the street with his friends.
“He had to retire early due to injuries and I feared ending up the same way. Nobody could give me any firm answers. I’d go to the doctors and they said I was 100 per cent healed, but that made it worse because the truth was I couldn’t play more than three or four games in a row. I could feel I wasn’t ok.
“I reached a moment at Boca when I said enough, I cannot continue like this, I just don’t have the strength. My family spoke to me and I promised to try one more year at Sevilla.
“Then Genoa came along and changed my life, but at that moment I really did think about throwing in the towel.”
Perotti has been given another new lease of life at Roma, where Spalletti unleashed him as a False 9.
“The Coach is tactically very strong, one of the best I’ve ever worked with. I think all of the players can learn so much from him.
“I am very happy to be playing so often and frankly didn’t expect it at Roma. I’d first of all love to secure third place, while second isn’t so far away, and for next season to play in the Champions League.
“It would be wonderful to win something with Roma, as we have the team to achieve it.”