Piotr Zielinski feels that the Inter Milan project is the right one for him.
The Polish international midfielder explained his reasons for joining the Nerazzurri in an interview published in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
This summer, Zielinski made a big move.
The 30-year-old left Napoli at the end of his contract with the Campanians. This ended an eight-year stint with the club.
And given that Zielinski was available as a free agent, the Pole would have been free to choose to join any club.
In the end, Zielinski settled upon joining Inter.
The agreement has been in place months before the 30-year-old actually completed the transfer. And this month, he actually made the move.
Zielinski has spent the past few weeks training and playing in friendly matches for Inter.
Piotr Zielinski Reveals Reasons For Joining Inter Milan
Zielinski noted that “There were other teams I could have joined. Both in Italy and abroad.”
“There were also clubs who were willing to pay a fee in January,” he continued.
“But looking at the quality of Inter’s players, and the way that Inzaghi has them playing on the pitch, I felt that it was the right destination for me.”
Zielinski said that “I chose this project without any doubts, and then waited.”
Of his adjustment to life at Inter, Zielinski said that “The first few days were a bit tricky.”
“Everything was new,” he noted. “It’s not easy to make a change after eight years.”
“But I have to say that every day things are getting better and better,” Zielinski said.
“Now I know the atmosphere of the place a little better,” he commented. “It’s a good atmosphere, and that’s made it easy to adapt.”
“Before I came here I spoke with Arnautovic,” Zielinski noted.
“I asked him for advice on everything. He was right in saying that I would immediately feel comfortable here.”
Zielinski then said that he has an “excellent” relationship with his new coach Simone Inzaghi. “Both with him, and with his staff.”
“We already talk a lot,” Zielinski said of his rapport with the Inter coach.
“Compared to in the past, I have a different job to do when we don’t have the ball,” the Pole noted. “But these are mechanisms on the pitch that you learn a bit at a time.”
“I’ve never had such a tough preseason,” Zielinski remarked. “But that can only be a good thing, I’m sure I’ll see the effects later.”
Praise For New Teammates, Optimism About Champions League
Then, the former Napoli midfielder spoke about his new teammates in midfield. “Calha is pure precision,” he said. “Bit what really impresses me is how he plays in the defensive phase.”
“The aggression. The constant running.”
“Barella knows how to do everything perfectly. And then Mkhitaryan – how much footballing intelligence does he have?!”
“It’s no coincidence that even at his age he’s still such a top player,” Zielinski said of Mkhitaryan. “He’s played for so many great teams.”
“You watch someone like that to learn.”
And as far as Inter’s ambitions for next season, Zielinski said that “In addition to the Scudetto, everybody has to dream of the Champions League.”
“There’s nothing bigger for a player. And then the Club World Cup is still something unknown.”
Zielinski said that lifting the Champions League trophy is “Not impossible for a team already capable of reaching the final, and with so much quality.”
