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| | Barzagli admits emotional exit |
Friday 11 July, 2008 |
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Former Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli feels some pangs of nostalgia, as he starts pre-season training with Wolfsburg.
The Azzurri stopper opted to join Rosanero teammate Cristian Zaccardo in Germany this summer, bringing a four-year spell in Sicily to an end.
Hometown club Fiorentina had wanted to sign the 27-year-old, but he deemed their contract to be unacceptable and is preparing for Bundesliga football.
“It was a complex choice to join Wolfsburg,” Barzagli confessed.
“It seemed like an ambitious project and also I wanted to make a change. Changing countries will provide new stimuli and it is certainly an exciting League.
“It will help me to have Zaccardo there and we will eventually get used to the new experience.”
However, in spite of his optimism, Barzagli clearly has some regrets at leaving Italy.
“I’m not sure if I will ever play for Fiorentina now,” he said. “That really upsets me because things outside my control stopped me going there.
“I gave so much to Palermo and they were four important years during which I earned a place in the national side and became a world champion.
“The experience will stay with me forever and it’s a shame that I didn’t get a proper send-off.”
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