Juventus-owned winger Matias Soulé refuses to rule out leaving Turin in the summer but admits it was ‘quite’ difficult to turn down the chance to play for Italy.
The Argentinean winger is on loan at Frosinone, where he has scored ten goals in 21 Serie A appearances this term.
He will return to Juventus at the end of the season, but several sources in the country claim the Serie A giants will sell him in the summer to balance the books and boost their transfer budget.
Newcastle and Southampton are among the clubs linked with a move for the 20-year-old, who rejected an offer from the Saudi Pro League this past January.
“When I surprisingly received an offer from Al-Ittihad, I immediately spoke to my family, but I already knew what to do. Stay to help Frosinone survive,” Soulé told Gazzetta on Thursday (page 7).
Soulé claimed he hasn’t yet decided where he will play next season despite rumours on Premier League clubs and even Atalanta.
“First of all, I must return to Juventus and then we’ll see,” he said.
“It also depends on them [Juventus]. Atalanta are a strong side, we conceded five goals in our last meeting!
“I have improved at Frosinone also thanks to the group that has been created here. The city is small and helps us stay together, also off the pitch.”
What has he learned from Eusebio Di Francesco and Massimiliano Allegri?
“Di Francesco leaves me a lot of freedom on the pitch. We play openly against every team. It’s what the coach told me when we spoke the first time and it’s one of the reasons why I decided to come here.
“Allegri has taught me a lot too. Occupy the spaces and play in different positions. I also played in central midfield or as a wing-back with him. But also attacking midfielder or support striker. He helped me so much defensively.”
Soulé has an Italian passport so he was offered the chance to play for the Azzurri. How difficult it was to turn down La Nazionale’s call?
“Quite difficult. We discussed it when Luciano Spalletti came to Frosinone. I was nervous. At my age, these things don’t happen every day, but he understood and he was really nice.”
Soulé added that he’d play in “any” role for Argentina and that Leo Messi is among his idols.
“Messi is untouchable, but when I was a kid, I liked El Kun Aguero and Eden Hazard when he was at Chelsea.”
What are his biggest dreams as a footballer?
“Right now help Frosinone survive, then win the Champions League and the World Cup,” Soulé concluded.