His explosion at Sampdoria, the "not positive" experience at Napoli and a new adventure in Premier League. Three goals in 9 games with Southampton, his chosen team to get back on track and try to get to the World Cup. Manolo Gabbiadini has given an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport, where he talks about his Russia 2018 objective and his new life in England. 6 goals in his first two months, then a stop: "The injury has stopped me when I was going well. I started very well, felt great and there was the enthusiasm for something new but when I got back something changed. I played in a different way. Everything got harder. Southampton's season has still been an important one: eight place, Football League Cup's final and we got out of Europa League for almost nothing".
Last Sunday, Manolo has scored twice against Newcastle: "I hope they see that I'm more present. A footballer trains and gives his best during the week with the objective of playing the game. Why did I choose Southampton? I had other options, also abroad, but I've chosen this spot so that I could face the Premier League. You're good here, at one hour of London or Heathrow's airport where they have three daily flights for Bologna. When I decided to leave Napoli, I've also made these valuations".
His memories in azzurro: "At Napoli I've had an important time of my life. I lived at Posillipo, in a great place. I've created myself a group of friends, including Marco Ferrigno. It's been an honor to weir Napoli's shirt. They have now the best football in Serie A and are trained by a great coach. Sarri and Benitez are the best I've had, but I remember well Pioli and Mihajlovic too".
He loves Bologna though: "I fell in love with this city. I've lived at Bologna my first important season of my career. I met the woman that has become my wife. It's an amazing city where I got passionated about basketball. I'm a Fortitudo fan. The president came to met me here at Southampton".
Il Southampton come spinta per andare in Russia: “Il Mondiale è il mio obiettivo. La maglia azzurra ha davvero qualcosa di speciale. Previsioni playoff? Cinquantuno noi, quarantanove loro. Non voglio pensare ad un’Italia che non va al Mondiale. Sarebbe un disastro per quelli della mia generazione”.
Southampton to get him to Russia: "The World Cup is my objective. The Italian jersey is really something special. Play-off against Sweden? 51% us, 49% them. I can't think about Italy not going to the World Cup".
