He's played his last game with Zenit last Sunday, and is now on his way to return to Italy. "I've cried. Saint Petersburg has been my home for a long time and I couldn't be impassive. It's been a great feeling understanding I've become someone important for Zenit. It's also been an honor having understood that I brought the Italian colors abroad. Credits also goes to my teammates: I didn't expect that, the moment of the substitution, they would all have come to hug me. I also smiled a lot: when we went to the fans, they all showed their banners that they were hiding until that moment. I'm really sad for leaving such a beautiful city, but in the meantime I'm happy to return to Italy, my country" has said the defender to Tuttosport.
"Mancini is a great professional and a great man. I knew him before he came coaching here because we talked to each other when he was at Inter to know if I could move there. Mancio knows a lot about football, I'm not the only one telling it, look at his trophy cabinet. He's done great everywhere he's been, from Inter to City. Our relationship is great, I'll always thank him for teaching me football. I'm happy they chose him to build again the national team, he's the right man for the job to bring Italy back to the top. Me in the national team? We've had some jokes, I know what I could give though: I hope he's not like Ventura, for who Russia was too far away to come see me play... I really hope I could get a chance in the team".
