In a long interview with AIC, Inter club captain and number one goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has spoken on a range of topics.
Firstly, the 35-year-old spoke on whether or not he feels he deals with the fame that being a football player brings.
“If I have to be honest, I don’t feel completely at ease, I would gladly give up on certain aspects of popularity that prevent me from living certain things normally. In this profession you must quickly learn to behave and what to avoid,” the Slovenian shot-stopper explained.
Handanovic, who is one of the longest serving players at the Nerazzurri, also touched on the topic of racism, something that has reared its ugly head far too often this season, especially in Italy.
“Racism arises from ignorance. It is an uphill battle to fight it. I struggle to find meaning when I see or read about these kind of incidents.”
He was also asked if he is someone who is happy to put in the extra work on the training ground.
“I do my duty like everyone else, we are professionals. It is normal to do more when we realise we need it. Over the years ones ability to recognise and regulate oneself increases.”
Handanovic is now in the twilight years of his career and despite presumably being only a few years away from retirement, he went on to admit that he has not thought what the future could be like for him.
“It’s early, for now the only thing I think about is the next game.”
He also spoke on some of the best stadiums he has played in during his career and a stadium where he hopes to be able to play one day.
“They are all stadiums where there are lots of people. I like the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, San Siro, Celtic Park and Borussia Dortmund’s stadium too. I would like to play at Liverpool’s Anfield to experience the atmosphere that everyone talks about.”
Handanovic joined Inter from fellow Serie A club Udinese ahead of the 2012/13 season and he has been pretty much ever present in the team since.
He is under contract with the club until the end of next season but reports in the media in the past few days have suggested that he is set to sign a one year contract extension.
This season he has made 29 appearances across all competitions for the club. He is currently sidelined by injury but could make his return this coming weekend in the match at home to Sampdoria.
