Inter-owned Salernitana defender Lorenzo Pirola is still hopeful that he will have a place at the Nerazzurri in the future.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Otto Channel, via FCInterNews, the 21-year-old admitted that it would still be an ambition for him to go back to his boyhood club and establish himself, something that he had not yet been able to do.

Pirola has managed to find his feet in Serie A on loan with Salernitana this season, having spent the two seasons prior on loan at Monza in Serie B where he felt his way into the senior game.

The Granata have an option to buy the 21-year-old defender on a permanent basis at the end of the season, whilst the Nerazzurri have a buyback clause in the deal.

Whilst there is a good chance that Pirola will end up at Salernitana on a permanent basis, or that his future in the senior game is otherwise away from Inter, the defender is still hopeful that he can eventually earn his place at the club whose youth academy he came through.

“For me, Inter is like a family and it’s dream, I spent five years of my career there from the Under-14 team all the way to the first team,” Pirola said, “I hope to one day be able to go back there and play an important role.”

“Conte gave me my debut against SPAL,” he continued, “he rewarded me for the work I had been doing in training.”

“I knew it would be difficult to stay there in the long term though, I earned a place in Serie A on the pitch on loan at Monza and now I’m here at Salernitana.”