Andrea Belotti spoke in his first press conference (via Voce Giallorossa) as a Roma player following his club debut in the 3-0 drubbing of Serie A newcomers Monza at the Stadio Olimpico. Il Gallo answered a host of questions, including his dip in goalscoring form last year, the transfer saga that extended over the summer, and Roma’s chances of a top league finish.
When quizzed why he hit the net less than usual last year, the ex-Torino marksman credited his poor streak mainly to recurring physical problems.
“Last season was turbulent. I had some accidental injuries, not muscular. Only one was of that nature, the others were accidental. When you get to the right condition and then you get hurt, it’s hard to come back. It has happened to me several times. I struggled to round back into shape, and, in fact, I played even less than in previous campaigns.”
Belotti brought into the spotlight his ambitions with Roma despite the presence of Tammy Abraham, who is José Mourinho’s first choice striker.
“It was a special summer. My priority was to come here because this is an important project. It’s an ambitious club. I was not looking for a contract that would protect me, but for the right situation. This was the best opportunity for me. I didn’t think about it much, Roma have always been my priority. I know Abraham is here, who is very strong, but for me this is an incentive to do better. It’s normal in top sides.”
He also answered if the Giallorossi could finish in the top three.
“It is a strange championship because we will stop for the World Cup. I think this is an opportunity for the players that do not go to Qatar to be ready for the restart. The large squad is a strong point, because everyone is needed. Roma’s goal is to win match after match, focusing on every single fixture. We can succeed in every game, that’s must be our mentality. Then we’ll see where we get. We must never set limits for ourselves.”
The striker reunites with ex-Palermo teammate Paulo Dybala after ages, following their respective stints in two of Turin’s biggest clubs – Torino and Juventus.
“I met with Paulo, it was good. The first words were about the path that we both took. We left Palermo together to go to Turin, but in two different teams, and we have found each other again. We were kids in Palermo, we are much more mature now.”
Finally, Belotti spoke of the welcome Roma fans gave him at the Stadio Olimpico prior to their most recent game.
“It was magical. It was nice to experience everything that happened, the teammates came in for the warm-up and I could hear the fans looking for me. I felt their affection on my skin. I went in, I looked up and I saw all those people. It’s one thing is to hear about it, another to live it first-hand. The hymn sung, the atmosphere, it was all fantastic. It was like a dream come true, it’s a pity not to have scored but it was still beautiful.”
Belotti is in line to make his full Roma debut on the weekend when the Giallorossi travel to the Dacia Arena to take on Udinese.
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