Juventus and Azzurri winger Federico Chiesa has given a lengthy interview to France Football, where he talked his lengthy injury lay off and road to recovery. The 26-year-old is into the last year of his contract with Juventus, and has yet to agree an extension with the Old Lady. Reports have linked him with both Roma and Bayern Munich, but the player has insisted that he is not going to think about his future until after the end of the European Championships:
“I grew up with a ball, watching my father play and wearing the jerseys he collected. When he played for Parma, Buffon came to our house and scared me. He was a massive guy, with that look and spiky hair. I didn’t know him, I was afraid of him, and I started crying. Being the son of a footballer never weighed on me; the name was never a burden. I had the dream of making it to Serie A, and I got there, also thanks to the valuable advice of a footballer father.”
The strongest teammates I’ve played with?
“I really enjoy playing with Vlahovic; he’s an exceptional player and a great friend. I liked playing with Ronaldo, Dybala, Muriel, Saponara, and Ilicic. And then Franck Ribery: wow, what a player. He’s also a great locker room presence, always happy and smiling, with enormous mental strength. He was at the end of his career at Fiorentina, but he really impressed me. Technically, in dribbling, he and Paulo Dybala are the strongest I’ve ever seen with my own eyes.”
The injury?
“The injury slowed down my career, but it taught me a lot. Before, I was probably a more instinctive, impulsive player, and maybe my game changed a bit, but not my speed. Now I’ve gotten very close to the level I was at before the injury.”
