INTERVIEW | Gaetano to “Il Cagliari in diretta”

Gianluca Gaetano was a guest on “Cagliari in Diretta”, a radio show broadcast every Thursday on Radiolina and Videolina.

GAETANO AS A PLAYMAKER
“I’m happy with this position; I can finally say I’m playing there. But it’s a surprise to some, not to me, as I’ve played there before and knew I’d be back in front of the defense. I won’t be moving from there again; I already played there at Cremona under Pecchia as coach, and at Napoli I was a midfielder or a mezzala because there wasn’t an attacking midfielder. There wasn’t a specific moment when Pisacane asked me to play in that position; we both simply knew it was an ideal position for me. Then with Juventus it went well, and at Como it wasn’t bad either. I like it because I get a lot of touch and can control the game. I think they put me behind the strikers, further forward, because I had a good view of the goal and scored often.”

WORK AND GROUND
“The goal against Roma was beautiful and thoughtful because I realized Ghilardi hadn’t timed it right. I was cool in controlling it and kicking it instead of putting it back in the box as is usually done. It was a good performance, played very well, with a brush, I’d say, but now we have to keep going because we’re doing well, but in Serie A you can never get distracted and it can take a moment to find yourself in the depths. We have to keep our feet on the ground and balanced.”

THE MATCH AGAINST LECCE
“It will be a very important match. We have to be ready and continue on the path we’ve shown in recent weeks. It’s certainly a match that weighs heavily on the standings and our progress. But as always, we’re very fired up.”

NOT ONLY THE GOALS
“I’ve never been a goalscorer. There have simply been times when I’ve scored in a few games in a row, and I’ve been given a label that doesn’t really apply to me because that’s not my role. Pisacane certainly had courage in putting me in front of the defense, but he was also courageous with many of our other players. It’s a young team that’s doing well today and everyone likes it, but then you have to trust rookie players. My idols? Initially Pogba, then I played with Hamsik at Napoli, and it was something extraordinary.”

CAGLIARI IS HOME
“I’ve always enjoyed Cagliari. From day one, it was wonderful, and then I really wanted to come back because the welcome from the people, from the senators, was magnificent. The sea, the serenity, and the messages on social media from so many people convinced me and make me sure that it’s the right place for me. Last year didn’t go so well, a year I’d like to undo, but it also taught me a lot. The summer retreat is very important. When you don’t do it at your best, you struggle a bit, and you have to be good at fighting, determined, and putting in your own effort. This year too, at a certain point, I wasn’t playing much, but we have a great connection and dialogue with the coach. I like him a lot. He’s obsessive, loves playing football, studies, and makes you understand the game plan perfectly: we have the ideal conditions and the perfect leadership, Coach Pisacane will have a great future.”

THE JERSEY NUMBER 10
“I wanted my dear 70, since it was my father’s birth year. But then the 10 was left open, and my teammates were convinced it was worth taking, that I was the right fit, so I gladly accepted this challenge. The number 10 in football is always special and gives you a special sense of responsibility.”

NATIONAL TEAM DREAM
“No one can help but think about the national team; it’s the dream of every player, young or old. You try and know that everything depends on what you do with your club; there are no other paths to the Azzurri. Then, if patience doesn’t come, it shouldn’t be an obsession. I was called up shortly before the match against Salernitana in 2024, but I got injured in that game and reluctantly had to throw in the towel. I spoke to Spalletti, whom I know well from my time at Napoli, and explained to him that I just couldn’t make it. Football, like life, is made up of passing trains, as we know, but there’s always time to catch the next one.”

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
“The new players are already integrating well. Deiola is a guy with whom I have a special relationship because he was the first to welcome me from the very beginning. Esposito is also a partner with whom I have a good feeling; we already knew each other from the past, but overall we’re a healthy, strong group, a family where everyone feels at ease from the very beginning.”