Our partners at FcInterNews.it spoke exclusively to Francesco Bardi which we at SempreInter.com reproduce here where the young goalkeeper discusses everything from how the season has been in Novara to the rumours that state that he could replace Samir Handanovic.
Francesco if we begin with the fact that last Saturday you were named the best goalkeeper in the Serie B. How happy did receiving this award make you which crowned a very important season?
“It was without doubt an enormous joy from a personal point of view, it’s an award which I share with the rest of the team because football is a teamsport and it’s the team that has helped me to win this award. Novara’s strength lies in the fact that we are a close-knit group and this award is just an illustration of that fact.”
You’ve spent two years playing in Serie B, one year with Livorno and one year with Novara after you left Inter’s youth team. Can you make a judgement over how these two years have gone?
“It’s been very positive: the first year in Livorno we managed to stay up despite goint through many difficulties. This year we have undertaken an incredible journey and we can still make our dream come true. I must say that I’m very pleased over this experience because it has helped me grow a lot.”
Do you think that maybe it’s time to take another step in your development and play in the highest league?
“I don’t know anything about this, it’s still to early to speak about the future. I am only thinking about working hard and improving day by day, then whatever happens happens. Firstly I’m focused on finishing the season in the best way possible to then focus entirely on the U-21 European Championship.”
For some time now rumours have been circulating that Inter are ready to sell Handanovic in order to promote you to being the first teams goalkeeper. Do you feel ready for this challenge?
“I’m not the kind of person who reads everything that the papers write. The way I see it Handanovic has had an exceptional season and has proven to be a champion. On a personal level I think that you never should let a goalkeeper like Handanovic go.”
Inter could do with you what the club did with Walter Zenga in the 1980’s where they brought him in at a very young age after he had played with Sambenedettese to replace Ivan Bordon. Does the idea of reapeating what Zenga did appeal to you in that you too could became a fan favourite the same way he was?
“The only thing on my mind today is the present. However, I have an agreement with Inter and we will sit down and coem to an agreement regarding the future as soon as possible. For a goalkeeper like me who is 21 years old, the most important thing is to play, no matter which team that is. To play for Inter would be a dream come true, but I think that this will happen some time in the future also because of what I said about Handanovic since he’s proven to be a real champion.”
Your idol has always been Gianluigi Buffon though?
“Absolutely correct. I’ve grown up with the legend of Buffon, ever since I was a child when I used to watch his videos. Goalkeepers like him are born once every thousand years.”
Have you had a chance to follow Inter this season? How do you explain this collapse that has happened to the group that you worked with at Pinzolo during the pre-season camp?
“Of course I’ve been following Inter, it’s a team that consists of champions which I spent the pre-season camp with. It has undoubtedly been an unlucky season which happens from time to time, but I can say that already in Pinzolo I saw a group who gave their all, unfortunately you have years like this sometimes. The most important thing is to keep going. It’s a great group who has a lot of experience and consists of exceptional players as well as people.”
How does your immediate future look like?
“First of all I want to finish the season well in Novara which is a city I have grown very fond of, so I want to finish in the best way possible. We take it one game at a time and then we will see what happens without looking back in anger or regret. Then I’m looking forward to the U-21 European Championships in Israel where I think we can do great things, this U-21 team is very good.”
You know many of the players in that squad from you time with Inter youth-team…
“Exactly, i got to know many of the boys before the nationalteam called me up. This is something which makes me happy and it’s a great honour to be a part of this group, for all of us Interisti.”