Empoli defender Daniele Rugani admits he is ‘honoured’ by reports that he could return to Juventus as he discusses his 2014.
The 20-year-old is co-owned by the Bianconeri and current club Empoli, and has been linked with a move to Turin given the injury struggles of Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres.
“Honestly, I’m honoured that they’re paying attention to me,” Rugani told UEFA’s official website.
Empoli defender Daniele Rugani admits he is ‘honoured’ by reports that he could return to Juventus as he discusses his 2014.
The 20-year-old is co-owned by the Bianconeri and current club Empoli, and has been linked with a move to Turin given the injury struggles of Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres.
“Honestly, I’m honoured that they’re paying attention to me,” Rugani told UEFA’s official website.
“That said, I’m only 20 years old and I still have a lot to prove. I hope one day to be good enough, but first I have to do a lot more work.
“I want to work and improve, and if one day I play in a team like that I’d be very happy.”
Rugani only made his Serie A debut this season, having been promoted with Empoli from Serie B last term, and the centre-back discusses his time in Tuscany.
“The last 12 months have been really great, and full of satisfaction.
“With Empoli we got promoted to Serie A, which is every kid’s dream. I made my debut in the top flight, and I got called-up to the senior national team.
“The most exciting of all was my first goal in Serie A against Cesena, when we drew 2-2, gaining our first point in the League.
“After that comes the call-up from the senior Italy team, and then my Serie A debut with Empoli in the 2-0 loss to Udinese.
“It was a special moment for the whole team, because for many of us it was our debut in Serie A.
“It really was a year to remember, with a lot of personal and group achievements.
“However, I consider it a starting point, because I hope to continue in the same way and get better. Right now it seems like everything is fine and I’ve come good, but it’s important not to forget that a year ago I was nobody.
“I’m a guy who always wants to improve, I’m humble but ambitious. When I reach a goal or get some sort of personal satisfaction I always tend to see the ‘negative’ in what I did – the one mistake in a game where I played well.
“That’s my main characteristic, I’m a bit manic in trying to correct my faults, and this, along with the fact I’m at a fantastic club with a phenomenal Coach [Luigi Sarri] has allowed me to improve a lot.”
The young defender was called up for the senior Azzurri side by Antonio Conte this term, although he wasn’t given any game time and the Empoli man took the time to speak about his international future.
“What prompted my call-up? I honestly don’t know,” Rugani reflected.
“Maybe for some reason I struck the Coach. As I said before, for me this is a starting point, not the end.
“It was a beautiful thing, but I know that it will be difficult to stay in the senior national team. There are champions playing who have played in Serie A for 10 years and have been to World Cups and European Championships.
“I’ve just started, and I still have everything to learn. The same thing is true with Italy as with Juventus, I hope to improve so that one day I reach a point where I deserve to play.
“If it happened [playing for Italy] I’d be the happiest guy in the world. The national team is a dream for me which I hope one day I deserve.
“Euro 2016? It would be a dream for me, and sometimes dreams come true.
“For me it’s been the case for many other things, so I’ll continue to dream and work hard so my dreams will become reality one day.”