INTER, Longo: ""Here to reward Inter's faith in me"

© foto di Giuseppe Celeste/Image Sport

He made his Serie A debut against Lazio on 13 May (18 minutes as a substitute), won the U19s Scudetto with the Primavera team and became 100% Nerazzurri when Inter bought the other half of his contract from Genoa. Now Samuele Longo is ready for the new season. Excited, proud and determined to reward Inter for the faith shown in him.

"Last season was brilliant, not only on a personal level but for the whole Primavera team. Hopefully the coming season will go just as well for the first team," the promising Nerazzurri striker told Inter Channel. "I'm here now and trying to make the most of this chance I've been given to come on Inter's training camp. I'm proud to be a part of this group and I'll give everything I've got to try and work my way into the team. It it doesn't happen then we'll see."

At centre forward or in another position, Longo knows playing is all that really matters: "Obviously I'd like to play as the target man but I'm perfectly happy to do a job anywhere I'm needed. Creativity? You need that whether you play in the centre or wide. Heading is one area I can improve. If you ask me if I shoot better right-footed or left-footed I'd say right, but actually I think I scored more with my left last season."
Longo continued: "I'm trying to pick up as many tips as possible from my team-mates. I've been impressed by Milito obviously, with what he's done and the goals he's scored in these first few days: every shot is a goal. I think I've got better as a player year on year, but there have been difficult times too. The first was when my path to Inter's Primavera was blocked by older players like Mattia Destro. Then I went to Piacenza and I got unlucky with an injury. Afterwards I moved to Genoa and now I'm happy to be back at Inter. I'll do everything I can to repay people for their confidence in me."

Is the footballing philosophy different in the first team compared to the Primavera? "No, it's the same philosophy, just that the older players know what they have to do with the ball. It's great to be playing with so many top players because wherever you put the ball you have a chance to score. There is a difference though: when you play with the 'big boys' you need to think more quickly; you have to know what to do with the ball before you even receive it."
Finally, Longo had a special thought for the many fans who followed the Nerazzurri to their pre-season training camp in Pinzolo: "It's very nice but it does feel a bit strange at times: they make me feel like a star or something, but actually I'm just one of them..."