Napoli, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic: "I won’t cut my beard, unless…"

He has clear ideas Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who was signed by Napoli a few days ago and is supposed to be the backup to incumbent Meret. Appearing at a press conference in Castel di Sangro, where Napoli is in training camp, the former Torino goalkeeper admits that what is beginning represents for him “a good challenge” and that the circumstance of being able to play in the Champions League for the first time in his career was “an important factor” in his decision to accept Napoli” proposal.

“The first contact – he explains – there’was last March and I immediately had a great desire to come here”. The’approach with teammates and the coach was positive. “I felt welcome right away– explains the Serbian goalkeeper–I didn&#8217t bond with anyone in particular, they are all good-hearted guys. The work to which Conte subjects us? I am fine, I have seen worse”.

D’on the other hand, the very presence of Conte on the bench was one of the determining factors in choosing the Azzurri jersey. “When a coach like Conte calls you –he says –it is very difficult to say no. From the beginning he told me that a lot of work has to be done. Frankly, I don&#8217t know if my raises influenced his choice. What’s important is that it makes my teammates feel secure. And then I came to the team of the champions of Italy’Italy”.

Considered a true ‘goalkeeper’ Milinkovic-Savic has not yet broached the subject with his teammates. “We have not yet talked about penalties” – he merely observes, although he remembers well which was the most important save of his career: “The penalty he parried at Pulisic” he clarifies without hesitation. In his role he has no definite reference points, no role models to imitate even though “I grew up – he explains – with Abbiati in my imagination.”

Having De Bruyne as a teammate is a fate that does not happen to every footballer. “I do what I can – he tells – to keep him from scoring goals in training, I never thought he would be a teammate of mine in light of my past as a striker.” He does not feel the duality with Meret at all. “It will be a pleasure to work with him – he says – he’s a great guy. I feel neither number two nor number one. The coach will make the choice.”

Milinkovic-Savic, on the other hand, has something to say to his defensive teammates: “They will do me a favor if few shots arrive, since Napoli is the team that received the fewest last year. However, it is not a source of pressure for me”. In his spare time Milinkovic-Savic plays with his dog. “And I stay with friends and family. I don”t play any sports other than soccer, we don”t risk injuries. Napoli’s new goalkeeper is not superstitious and would not shave his beard even if he won the Scudetto. He responds thus to a question but then almost corrects himself: “If you give me the certainty, however, I will cut it…”.