UDINE • At 36, Fabio Quagliarella has put his years of torment at the hands of a stalker behind him as he prepares to line up for Italy thanks to the best season of his career in Serie A, where he is the top scorer ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even if Roberto Mancini is focusing on youth as he rebuilds the Azzurri following their failure to qualify for last year's World Cup, the Italy coach was unable to ignore the striker's remarkable run of form for Sampdoria that has seen him plunder 21 goals in 27 league games.
The veteran could earn his 26th cap - 8.5 years after his last appearance for the national team - in their Euro 2020 Group J opener against Finland in Udine today.
While Quagliarella is the oldest member of the squad, he told Italian TV channel Rai Sport he was "living everything with great enthusiasm and serenity".
Insisting the call-up was earned, he added: "This is the Italian national team, there's no need to give caps away.
"Being called up by the Azzurri is a great source of satisfaction. There are so many strong young players with great personalities and, for me, it's nice to be here, even if I'm playing it by ear.
21
League goals Fabio Quagliarella has for Sampdoria this season, the most in Italy's Serie A.
"I'm trying to carve out my space. I'm now at an age where you also know how to manage emotions."
While Mancini's side have been hit by injuries with Fiorentina striker Federico Chiesa already ruled out, Quagliarella provides another option up front alongside Juventus' forward pair of Federico Bernardeschi and Moise Kean, and Lazio striker Ciro Immobile.
The former Manchester City boss had already been keeping tabs, inviting him to take part in a training camp in February.
Quagliarella said: "I know that at my age, things can change from one day to the next, but the national team has always been a goal, and being in the midst of all these young people gives energy."
He scored his first goals in Serie A almost 15 years ago, in 2005 with Ascoli, and having netted 19 league goals last term, he is enjoying a sustained purple patch when most footballers would be winding down their careers.
His new-found calmness also follows the end of a stalker case that forced him to leave his home town of Naples in 2010.
For months, a former policeman sent hundreds of anonymous letters to Napoli claiming the player was involved in organised crime, paedophilia and drug trafficking.
After just one season, the club offloaded him to rivals Juventus, a departure then perceived as the worst betrayal by the home fans, who knew nothing of the case.
He was only able to tell the whole story, which left "significant scars", in 2017, when his persecutor was sentenced to nearly five years' jail.
In response, Napoli supporters displayed a banner at the San Paolo Stadium, which read: "You've lived through hell with enormous dignity. We will embrace you again, Fabio, son of this city."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
He may still be some way off his ambition of playing in a top European league, but Ikhsan Fandi is definitely making progress, after scoring his first two goals in Norway's second-tier football
Football: 'Adulting' Ikhsan finds his footing in Norway
(Reuters) - Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending a member of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship (second-tier) match on Friday. Derby said earlier that local police had spoken to a person acting suspiciously outside their training ground on Thursday.
Leeds United Manager Marcelo Bielsa Admits Spying on Derby
BARCELONA, March 9 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi created a goal and scored another as Barcelona came from behind to beat struggling Rayo Vallecano 3-1 at home on Messi shines as Barca survive scare
Messi shines as Barca survive scare to see off Rayo
UK selected. England; N. Ireland necessarily mean that you will be poor at other Commonwealth Games sports which are not listed in your results. a good match for people who rate themselves
Sports Dropout Rate for Girls Six Times Rate For Boys | MomsTeam
Qatar stun Japan in Asian Cup final Qatar shocked four-time champions Japan 3-1 to win their first Asian Cup title on Friday, three years before the resource-rich Gulf nation hosts the World Cup in 2022.
Ali's 'golden touch' floors Japan as Qatar lifts Asian Cup
Iran coach Queiroz set for Colombia switch after Asian Cup. (AFP) — Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said yesterday that he was "honoured" to be courted by Colombia, who want the former Real
Iran coach Queiroz set for Colombia switch after Asian Cup
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City. Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City. They played fantastic football and we made a lot of mistakes. We wanted to
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City
A men's volleyball match between Iran and the US in Tehran on Friday could be a key test for an easing of a ban on female spectators, but for hardliners any change will be a step too far, the BBC
England national football team - Wikipedia
Scoring an issue for Protectors despite first win, Football
Team USA members on historic fight for equal pay in women's soccer. Players on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team are fighting the U.S. Soccer Federation over wages and treatment they say are
Lions hungry for victory in Afcon final That belongs to the past because on Sunday the Indomitable Lions will contest the final against seven-time champions Egypt without eight players who
O'Driscoll hungry for first Lions series win | Fox News
Stubborn Sarri unruffled as Blues flop again, Football News
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live streaming hd
free watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer am live stream
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch the champions league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming pc
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live stream hd
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch premier league live stream reddit
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming yify
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch live streaming soccer games
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch soccer live stream links
watch champions league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch soccer live stream app
soccer tv live net stream
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live stream uk
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league live in stream
#footballmeme #seriea #Vip45 #salah #zidane #JUVENTUS #kopisusu #bundesliga #Liverpool #insegreto #coyg #firmino #goodday #barcelona #hoffenhiem #nikesoccer #football #golazo #sunderlandafc #satira #oudmehta #uefanationsleague #manchestercity #villarealcf #BMW #bayernmunich #footballstreaming #ronaldo #calciatoribrutti #championsleague #leicestercity #soccermemes #footballschedule #premierleague #risate #cr7 #Sunday #beatifulgame #commento #Liamgallagher #juventus #Barca #elcasico #arsenalnews #frasirap #panini #afcnews #oasis #Celtic #manchestercity #thomasmeunier #football #trollfootball #livesports #boxing #knuckleball #arsenalfantv #oasisandbeatles #transfernews #manunited #comico #livestreams #chocolatecoffee #footballmemes #henderson #tokyo #romania #acmilan #sixtimes #hotcoffee #bayern #ignoranza #mancity #PartyTime #realmadrid #soccer #mancityvsliverpool #valcea #nutmeg #livestreaming #neymar #pagani #england #cristiano #crossfit #frasitrap #freekicks #goal #premierleague #commentimemorabili #kroenkeout #noelgallagher
0 Comments