Juventus youngster Nicolo Fagioli believes ‘wearing the Juventus shirt is an honor, even when you go out and you are hated: it is an extra source of pride’. The 22-year-old midfielder spoke with sports channel DAZN about the challenges facing a young player coming through the Bianconeri ranks, the things he’s improved on since last season and his new teammate Timothy Weah:
“Wearing the Juventus jersey is an honor, even when you go out and you are hated: it is an extra source of pride.
Did you know that Weah is a music producer?
“Yes? Maybe I had already heard of him, I have to listen to his songs.”
Do you like to run?
“I like running, on the field if you want to win you have to run. Above all you have to like to run behind the opponents. The training camp: It’s the most tiring part of the season because you have to start again. Physically you’re not like during the season, you have to work harder than other weeks during the season. It serves a lot to better prepare for the first league games and then get to the final goals.”
In what do you feel most improved from last season?
“The focus at the defensive level. I think in this the coach has made me grow a lot. On the field he gives you a lot of peace of mind, he is not one who attacks you when you make a technical mistake, but he is one who gets more angry when you make a mistake in attitude. You have to be on the ball the whole game, but if you make a technical mistake he is the first one to encourage you.”
Who are your role models?
“I loved Pirlo when he played, I think he was a phenomenon. Now I look at Modric a lot. We played the friendly on tour last year, he was incredible. He gets the ball out of your eyes before you try to tackle him.”
Anyone who has surprised you?
“Theo Hernandez and Leao, but I never played against them. They are incredible players.”
Do you feel you are a bit of a drafter of this new generation of Juve players that is coming up?
“There are the older ones who pull us up, they are great at it. They always help us. My image can be an inspiration to the younger guys: to be an Under 23, one year out, come back here and play you have to earn it. It’s a beautiful path.”
On arriving at Juventus.
“I arrived here that I was 13 years old, I’ve been here almost nine years. I always dreamed of being here. Then of course you have to make the path from the youth sector to the primavera, then into the Under 23, which is important because it prepares you to enter professional football. Then I did a year out in Serie B which served me very well, it was a lucky year because we went up to Serie A. Then I came back here and had my chances to play, I was very happy.”
“Improvements? It’s a part you have to do every year and on any aspect. On the goal-scoring level I have to do better, it’s a quality I have. Then to play as many games as possible.”
And maybe to play the European Championship?
“This is a dream because Italy is really strong, but it’s my dream. I can do it, but I have to put a lot of passion to a lot of sacrifice.”
