Empoli midfielder Mirko Valdifiori says ‘my role-model is Pirlo’ as he joins up with his first Italy squad.
The 28-year-old has been called up by Azzurri CT Antonio Conte in the absence of Andrea Pirlo, and has expressed his delight at a possible debut for his country.
“Being here is a huge joy,” Valdifiori told journalists in a Press conference ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier with Bulgaria.
Empoli midfielder Mirko Valdifiori says ‘my role-model is Pirlo’ as he joins up with his first Italy squad.
The 28-year-old has been called up by Azzurri CT Antonio Conte in the absence of Andrea Pirlo, and has expressed his delight at a possible debut for his country.
“Being here is a huge joy,” Valdifiori told journalists in a Press conference ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier with Bulgaria.
“I feel great pride and satisfaction, and I thank those who gave me the opportunity, as well as Empoli because they allowed me to express myself to the maximum on the field.
“This call-up is very important. My role model is Pirlo, the number one for the last 10 or 15 years. Training with such great players I can only learn I have to improve defensively and understand the system of the Coach.
“Conte wants to give us a clear identity, we try to do what he asks of us on the pitch.
“I don’t feel fatigued because of his sessions, there’s a lot of enthusiasm and things are normal, there are also a lot of tactics and we welcome these sessions.
“I’ve joined the squad with humility, I’m trying to figure out what to do. My best role is in front of the defense, but I’d also play closer to the goal as there are great players ahead of me like [Marco] Verratti and [Claudio] Marchisio who have done so much for the Azzurri.
“Conte welcomed me by shaking my hand, he put me at ease. This is a dream, and I want to do everything to get back here.”