Francesco “Ciccio” Caputo, the veteran Italian striker, finds himself in an unfamiliar position as a free agent following his recent contract termination with Empoli. In a candid interview with Radio Sportiva (via Calciomercato), Caputo discussed his current situation and future aspirations.
Reflecting on his current status, Caputo said, “It’s a strange moment: I started with Empoli, did the pre-season, then this decision came with the club and now I’m waiting… I hope to return soon and we’ll see what happens in the coming days.”
The 36-year-old striker made it clear that he’s not ready to hang up his boots just yet. “If there’s an opportunity, I’d like to stay in Serie A, but I’m not ruling anything out,” he stated. “I’ve had two or three requests from Serie B, something is moving, but I want something that gives me the chance to be a protagonist. I don’t want to just get by.”
Caputo reminisced about his peak performance, saying, “The year at Sassuolo with De Zerbi, 21 goals, I even made it to the national team where I scored. It was the best season, then things don’t always go as you hope.”
Addressing his unexpected departure from Empoli, Caputo admitted, “I didn’t expect it to go like this at Empoli, but I have broad shoulders and I look ahead. I didn’t expect a situation like this, but this is part of our world and our job. It’s the first time I’ve been a free agent, in twenty years it’s never happened to me, but it was a… forced choice. I was very sorry. But I look ahead and to the future.”
The striker emphasized his desire to continue playing at a high level: “I want to play, if I don’t play… I get nervous. As a striker, only if I play can I score and give my best.”
Caputo also revealed some near-misses with bigger clubs in his career: “After Sassuolo, I had a few important situations. Roma looked for me, but then Sassuolo asked for a lot of money. I was close to Lazio a few years ago to be Immobile’s backup.”
Regarding his future, Caputo mentioned the support he’s receiving from fans: “Many fans write to me from all over, even from lower division clubs… I would like to finish at least in Serie B at certain levels, then we’ll see.”
Finally, Caputo paid tribute to his former coaches: “I had Conte who believed in me, made me understand the mentality of work and victory. Then De Zerbi wanted me and exalted me in everything. His first call was ‘Do you want to score 20 goals in Serie A? Come to Sassuolo’. I scored 21. This says everything about him.”
