Interview by Eduardo Marcarini
While Manolo Gabbiadini has come a long way in his career after playing for Napoli and making it to the Premier League and Italian national team, he was still unsure of himself after his debut in Serie A in a match between Parma and Atalanta:”The following day I was in my uncle’s garage, I worked four hours in the morning, I didn’t think I was a professional player. They told me to leave by saying what are you doing here?- he told GianlucaDiMarzio.com in an exclusive interview- I realized I could make it as a footballer when I went back to Serie A after playing in Serie B”
Gabbiadini started playing as a kid against his older sister Melania, also a professional player:”There was always a ball between us, and I admit she often won, after all an eight year difference can be felt, but sometimes she let me win”
Gabbiadini has adapted well to playing for Southampton and life in England:”I’m very comfortable here, my wife Martina and my son Tommaso also like it here, obviously it’s a big change from Napoli. There you had a Neapolitan lifestyle, walks in center of town and by the sea. Here in England it’s colder, so we stay at home. When I arrived here everyone helped me, but athe beginning it was hard with English, everything gets easier when you score. What do I like to do? We don’t have much time so rather than TV series we prefer to watch movies. When I’m with the national team we have Netflix. Speaking of Italy, I can’t imagine a World Cup without the Azzurri”
The Premier League is different than what he experienced in Italy:”it forces you to never give up. Everyone runs, the minute you don’t give your best you lose. How do I see the league? Today I say Manchester City are the favorites, then we’ll see. I didn’t see a great United on the pitch, while Conte will fight until the end. As an Italian I can’t deny I think of returning to Serie A”
