Atletico Madrid, Cerci: “Lazio is a possible solution for January: my past at Roma wouldn't be a problem”

Two difficult seasons to put behind him, and a great desire to recover lost time. Alessio Cerci is ready to come back on the scene: his knee injury is merely a memory. The Italian winger talked about "rebirth" in an interview to Corriere dello Sport: "It's a rebirth, I'm ready. Within a month, a month and a half, I'll be ready to play. In January, I want to find a team that makes me feel important. Where do I want to play? It's normal that I'd prefer to return to Italy: it's the country that helped me grow as a footballer. If I find a solution in Italy, I'll return willingly. But I won't exclude other options, playing outside of Italy wouldn't be a problem for me. I want trust, and I will choose whoever gives it to me." On his injuries at Atletico and Milan: "They took me back a year and a half. At Milan, there were goals to achieve and I'm not the type to stop. In hindsight, the fact that I had to stop, play, and replay only created problems for me. My performance was affected and my knee got worse. At Madrid, in the first four months, I never started, besides just one time in the Copa del Rey. This made me rethink my decision, and made me change my mind quickly. I understand, in great clubs like that, you can't presume to play right away.I knew that I had great champions in front of me, but I thought that I deserved a few more possibilities. Simeone always respected me, and he put who he thought was right on the pitch at all times." Lazio and Bologna are two possible solutions for Cerci in January: "There was interest from Lazio, but they weren't convinced because of my right knee, we'll see what happens in the next few months. Bologna calculated my recovery time, and it was a bit long: they preferred to wait. Playing at Lazio wouldn't be a problem. I grew up at Roma, I have great memories from there, but football brings you to make decisions that give you the opportunity to play. Initially, Candreva had problems there, but then he conquered the people of Lazio. His example is obvious. Immobile? I hear from him through text messages, we still have a great relationship. After that important year together in Torino, we still have hope that we will play together and do something beautiful again." Cerci began his career at Roma with Totti and Capello: "With Totti, I had a normal relationship, he was always available and friendly to me. I was 15 years old, starting to train with the champions of the first team. It was emotional, I dreamed of my debut. Capello gave me it at 16 and a half years old. They came to see me during my time with the Allievi and Primavera squads. I did very well, scoring goals there, and one day the phone call came... I was at the bar in Trigoria, Galbiati said, 'Kid, tommorow you'll be with us, training with the first team.' I thought it was a joke, I didn't believe it." Cerci was close to moving to England: "Mancini wanted me at City before I signed with Fiorentina. I was very close to the English club, but then they backed down. I think it was due to a corporate decision, not a decision made by Mancini. He tried to get me even after my first year in Florence, but then Ventura called me and I went to Torino." @GIANMARCalciO