Daniele Padelli, Udinese`s goalkeeper, has signed a contract extension with the Friulian club for another year. Speaking to TV12 during a program dedicated to the team, he shared the reasons that led him to prolong his agreement.
“This should be my twenty-fourth season as a professional. On the one hand, it`s a pleasure; on the other, less so,” he commented playfully. “I truly have to thank the club, the environment, the city, the fans – pretty much everyone – because last year could honestly have been my last. But in the end, I still remember a little bit how things are done, and I believe a partnership works both ways: I`m happy to continue playing football wearing this shirt, and if the renewal was offered to me, I think it`s also positive from the club`s perspective. It`s wonderful because it signifies that you work diligently and are valued. Reaching professionalism is one thing; maintaining a stable presence is another, and that fills me with pride. I`m also pleased to celebrate my fortieth birthday here, incidentally. It`s not a milestone that concerns me; I feel quite at ease because I`ve been saying I`m forty for a year now. Plus, with all these young players around, I have to be young too. Or rather, `youthful,` as I can`t truly be young anymore. They certainly keep me sharp.”
You`ve begun training for the new season. How is the preparation proceeding?
“We only recently started again, it`s the initial days. There`s still a bit of a holiday feel in the air, but this morning, with the first proper training session on the pitch, that feeling was somewhat put aside. Now we`re beginning to get serious, preparing for what will be an important year. There`s a good, positive atmosphere; many players have returned from various loan spells with added experience. Naturally, there are many of us, and decisions will need to be made; some players have arrived, some will arrive, some will depart. But that`s part of a team`s developmental journey – knowing how to embrace these slightly uncertain moments and work towards a collective objective, which is the first league match.”
Many players at Udinese are sought after, even by top clubs.
“That`s standard. Ultimately, this is our profession, and if many teams are interested in your players, it means they are strong players, they performed well last year, they are important prospects, and that last season`s team was a significant team. If we could retain the majority of these players, we could establish a base upon which to build for one season, or even two, three, or four. I need to observe the players who have returned from loans, as they possess significant qualities. Let me see them for a few days, and then I`ll be able to tell you who might make an impression.”
