Roberto Civitarese, who works as a mind coach with many footballers, has spoken on his experience working with Inter owned striker Samuele Longo in an interview with CalcioMercato.com.
Longo is a product of the Inter academy but has made just two appearances for the first team in competitive action in amongst a plethora of loan spells elsewhere in Italy and in Spain.
The 28-year-old spent the first half of this season on loan at Spanish second division side Deportivo La Coruna and proceeded to join Serie B outfit Venezia on loan for the second half of the season. Reports have suggested Venezia have been very impressed by him and would like to keep him for next season too.
“All the conditions were there [for him to have a good season]. When one is preparing to do a certain type of work, to put one’s skills and abilities into play, one must also be put in a situation functional to one’s abilities.
“Samuele was ready to get involved but he has been in situations that haven’t allowed him to show his full potential. When he was at Deportivo, they wanted to win the league but they found themselves in last place and changed their manager three times.
“The situation has now changed and in Venice he has found an environment which lines up with his goals and qualities. When you start doing well in a positive situation, the cycle of success starts.”
Civirarese then spoke on all the unfulfilled promise associated with Longo who was tipped to be one of the top young players when he was coming through the ranks at the Nerazzurri.
“The world of football is very instinctive. A player with great promise either immediately explodes or is shelved. Longo has achieved results, except I feel that they have not been highlighted fairly.
“He has won two titles in Spain but has never had the opportunity in La Liga or Serie A, Cagliari excluded. In Frosinone, for example, he never played.
“He has not had the opportunity to have an opportunity at the right times and therefore different paths have opened up. Despite this, he must never change his goal, only the road changes. Google maps can always find an alternative way for you to get to the destination you want. Loan moves are a means to an end not the end.”
