Nicolò Fagioli's Interview with Corriere dello Sport:
SHOTS LIKE MODRIC – "I have them in training… (laughs). I admire Allegri a lot too; he helped me grow, and during my suspension, he was very close to me."
THE PERIOD OF SUSPENSION – "I wasn’t injured, no, and I never lied to myself. It was something else. Both a blessing and a curse. Because I could work out, run, and go to the gym, but I knew I wouldn’t be playing. Now I am at peace. I’m enjoying myself, and enjoyment is the foundation of everything. I also feel the weight of responsibility, and believe me, it’s a great feeling. Being away from the pitch, that huge void, helped me rediscover my passion."
A HUMAN AND SPORTING RESURRECTION – "I have taken back my life… I spent eleven years at Juve, and when I decided at the end of December that I would leave, I felt lighter. But when the moment of farewell arrived, I cried. It hit me hard. I cried without even realizing it. That day, I understood that a long chapter of my life was closing—I was leaving behind familiar places, teammates, and my daily routine. It was traumatic. Fiorentina welcomed me with so much affection, and the excitement of a fresh start eventually outweighed everything else."
THE MOVE FROM TURIN TO FLORENCE – "For me, it’s work. I can’t think of anything else."
THE GROWTH PROCESS – "At Juve, you don’t even have time to enjoy victories. You win a match, and you immediately have to forget about it and look ahead. If you lose, you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Wearing that jersey is not easy. Leaving Turin allowed me to move past my ‘kid phase,’ which felt very restrictive. Moise (Kean) felt the same way. At Juve, we were always considered the youth players, the Next Gen guys, and were treated as such. It’s a price we paid. At Juve, you have to win, win, win—there’s no room for mistakes. If you make one, you’re out. And if you’re a young player, you become the first to be substituted, and no one says a word. Only Allegri gave me the chance to play consistently. After Genoa and Leipzig, Motta didn’t consider me anymore. Florence has given me back the joy and lightness. ‘Little Fagioli’ is gone—today, I am Nicolò."
LIGHTNESS – "When you know the coach doesn’t see you, if there’s no trust, you prepare worse, you go to training, you feel the weight of it, and naturally, you don’t perform well. If you come on for three or four minutes and they tell you that you need to do better, something negative clicks inside you. Your mindset changes."
OFFERS IN JANUARY – "Marseille was interested, along with several other clubs. I chose the team that wanted me the most. Conversations with Pradè, Goretti, and Palladino were crucial. Moise? He told me, ‘Come here, it’s great.’ Viola Park is truly fantastic."
POSITION ON THE FIELD – "It depends on what the coach asks—whether I need to play higher or deeper. With Palladino, I play in a midfield three, and I feel good. Playing three matches in a week doesn’t weigh on me."
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