Bonazzoli: "I truly wanted to join Verona, the reception has been fantastic"

Verona - Statements from new Hellas Verona striker Federico Bonazzoli, released in his introductory press conference that took place today, monday august 21st, at the club's headquarters.

A great start in Empoli, it looks like there's also a great feeling with the locker room... "Every time you join a new team you always need some time to fit in with everyone. I would say I'm a nice guy, who's available to everyone. I'm truly happy of the reception I received from the team, the club and the fans, it's not something you take for granted. I'm completely available to this club".

Why do you think Verona is the right place for you to play in? "It was an easy decision to take. I'm not the one who should speak about this club and its fanbase. As soon as I heard the opportunity to come here I decided to join this team. It has been a long and hard negotiation, my only aim was to join Verona as soon as possible in order to start working with the team. Last January the two clubs had some contacts, but it didn't go through. At the end of the season I understood that there was a concrete chance to join Verona and that the club really wanted to add him to the roster. The desire of the club to bring me here was the key for me. In life, not only in football, being in a place that wants you is important. I need this, I need to feel alive and to stay with people that want me: I really owe to them and I will have to prove that on the field".

Thoughts about your new manager, Baroni? "I didn't knew the manager before joining the team, I just know what he's done in the past and what he was able to achieve. Personally he sends me positive vibes, he's quite and know how to value a player and a man. I hope he'll teach me a lot of things because I want to keep improving and learning".

Tactically, do you feel more as a striker or as a second striker? "Personally I would say as a second striker because I really like to play with another forward and play in the same area. I like to score goals, obviously, but I also love to keep and the football and play it around".

What is your relationship with Milan Djuric? "I have a great relationship with him, both on and off the pitch. I love playing alongside him, we understand each other really well. Verona is a special place for italian football, Milan didn't have to tell me anything to join the team, but for sure the fact that he was here played a part".

Is scoring double digit goals a target for you? "I feel like we just have team targets: for example trying to secure our Serie A spot as soon as possible. Every striker aims to reach double digit goals, but I'm just focused on scoring goals that matter and have an impact on the team. I obviously set personal targets but what it matters is to reach our team targets".

How do you approach such a difficult Serie A season? "I'm used to play in situations in which you have to fight until the end. Our goal should be to put everything we have on the pitch every single week and saturday we have proved it. Getting points since the beginning of the season is a key, points weighs the same at the beginning and the end of the season. Against Empoli it was a direct rivalry, we proved our strength. On the field I had positive feelings also near the end of the game, when we suffered a bit. In general I like fighting: in Salerno, when we were in difficult situations, I loved having the weight on my shoulders, I love those situations, I'm not a guy who steps back when needed. It will be a tough season we have to give everything against every team: this should be our spirit".

Would you like to remain in Verona for a long time? "I would love to find a team in which I can play for an extended period of time and also help the youngsters who will come up in the near future while being someone they look up to".

In the past Verona could count on a lot of great strikers... "Yeah, better players than me that left a mark on italian football by scoring lots of goals. With Pazzini for example I have a good friendship: we are always in contact, I also spoked to him after the Empoli game. These players are examples to follow but it's too easy to say it: I just want to prove myself on the pitch. It's a responsability but also a feeling that excites me".