Getty Images
EXCLUSIVE interview with Inter, Milan, Juve target Pjaca: ‘I am dreaming of Serie A’
You have just recovered from a shoulder injury. How are you?
“I am good thanks. It was a very bad injury, definitely one of the worst of my career. It was painful but it didn’t take long to recover. I’ve worked hard to come back as soon as possible to finish the season and play EURO 2016.”
Are you happy with your team’s Champions League campaign?
“We did well in European competitions. Last year we won two domestic titles and this season we started very well against Arsenal in the Champions’ League group stage. We could have won both games against Olympiacos, but we end up losing, while Bayern Munich are simply stronger than us, even if we had quite a lot of chances in our last home game against them. It was a great experience and I think we are a stronger team now. Next year we’ll try to do something better.”
Lot of European clubs are interested in signing you. Are you ready for the big step? “I am honoured to be linked to some of the best European clubs, but I am not thinking about that now. I have to remain focused on the pitch and doing my best, the future will be a consequence of that.”
Serie A giants Inter, Juventus and Milan have set sights on you, which club would you prefer joining?
“I can only repeat what I said before. It’s great to be linked with these Serie A giants. It gives me strength to carry on working and giving my best during trainings and matches.”
Which one is your favourite position on the pitch?
“I mostly play behind strikers, as offensive midfielder, or winger. I’ve also played as striker but it is not a decision that I have to take. I play wherever the boss tells me to, I always want to do the best to help my team.”
Who’s your favourite player?
“Definitely Ronaldinho. He’s the one I admire the most since when I was a child. He was able to win games single-handedly and he was entertaining too. You could tell he was born to play football. He was special.”
You will play EURO 2016 with Croatia. Any thoughts on the tournament?
“I am looking forward for the competition to begin. We have a great team, but out group is extremely difficult. We’ll face Turkey, Czech Republic and Spain but we have enough talent to make it through the next stage.”
Your national team is full of players who know Serie A very well (Brozovic, Perisic, Mandzukic, Kovacic). Did they advise you to move to Italy? “It only proves how good our players are, because they play in the best European leagues. The Serie A is one of the best leagues in the world and whoever has played there can’t ask for more. One day I’d be happy to be part of those players who have played in Serie A.
Some of your teammates like Coric, Soldo and Brekalo have been also linked with moves to Serie A. Do you ever talk about a future in Serie A together?
“Dinamo have lot of interesting youngsters who attract the interest of big clubs, from Italy, but also from other countries. We don’t talk about the future, but one day I’d like to share the changing room with players coming from this club or Croatia in general.”
Federico Albrizio @Albri_Fede90, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
