🎙️INTERVIEW | Alessandro Romano speaks to Il Corriere dello Sport

Alessandro Romano spoke exclusively to Italian sports daily Il Corriere dello Sport. The midfielder, who joined the Rossoblù this summer, immediately made his mark: scoring the winning goal at Parma on his first Serie A start and putting in another strong performance against Inter. Here is an excerpt from his wide-ranging interview, published in today’s edition.

SERIE A DEBUT
“Did I expect to make such a start? To be honest, I didn’t really think about it. I just focused on working day by day and preparing as well as possible to reach my best physical condition. I experienced an incredible feeling in Parma. I didn’t expect to score, so I’m very happy that we came away with our first three points of the season. On Sunday at the Unipol Domus, I was really impressed by our fans. In the final ten minutes, they gave us an incredible boost. We were facing Inter, but we weren’t afraid. In the end, we believed we could get the equaliser. A very strong group is taking shape. I see energy, desire and enthusiasm. I was welcomed very well. There are a lot of young players, we enjoy ourselves and we work well together.”

THE FAMILY
“Here in Cagliari, I’ve found a place in the city centre. I can reach the sea in five minutes. To be honest, I haven’t really had the time or the chance to enjoy it yet. Even though I come from Switzerland, I’m not particularly drawn to the mountains. I often go to Naples, where my father’s family comes from. My mother, Chiara, is from Lecce. The sea in Puglia is beautiful too, but I wouldn’t make comparisons. What is Winterthur, my hometown, like? It’s a nice, peaceful and well-organised place: it’s a great place to live. I started playing football there when I was six. We live outside Zurich, halfway towards Winterthur. My father Umberto was born in Switzerland, but he feels Neapolitan, like the rest of his family. He was a footballer and is now a coach. My parents met on a football pitch. My father was playing for Baden, while my mother worked at the stadium. Quite a coincidence. My grandparents, Franco and Teresa, had also moved to Zurich. My brother Luca, who is two years older than me, plays for Kriens. He’s a defensive midfielder too, the same position as my father. Midfield runs in our blood.”

WHY CAGLIARI
“I already knew Mister Pisacane as an opponent. I had played against him with the Primavera. He’s young and very committed. We spoke towards the end of the season and he really wanted me here. Feeling his trust was fundamental for me. I chose Cagliari because of him and because of the team. On the pitch, he recognizes our strengths, adapts the way we play and asks for fluidity. If you’re facing Inter, you have to be able to do different things. I don’t feel like I’m just passing through Cagliari. ‘Passing through’ is probably the wrong word. (He touches the shirt bearing the symbol of the Four Moors, and the gesture says more than any words could, ed.). I have to give my all for the team. I like everything here. As soon as I arrived, I read everything I could about Gigi Riva, an idol and a legend of Sardinia. We have a fantastic training centre, and the Club gives us everything we need to work in the best possible conditions. I’ve seen the pictures and the plans for the new stadium. I don’t know what it will look like when it’s finished, but it looks very impressive. And yes, it would be great to play there at the European Championship too. Why not?”

THE NATIONAL TEAM
“I’m happy that, at just 20 years old, I’ve attracted the attention of Mancini and Yakin. It’s an immense honour. They both came to the stadium to watch me in the first two league games. I have a clear idea in my mind, but for now I’m keeping it to myself. We’ll see when the Nations League call-ups are announced. I have to choose between the two. What I can say is this: I won’t choose against a national team, but in favour of a national team.” The Rossoblù midfielder, who arrived on the island this summer and made his Serie A debut, opened up in an extensive interview. Here is an excerpt from his words.