Empoli striker Martin Satriano has revealed it remains his desire to return to parent club Inter at the end of his loan spell this season.
The Uruguayan attacker made the temporary switch to the fellow Serie A club after failing to establish himself in the first team at Inter, but insisted that it was with a view to preparing himself for regular football with the Nerazzurri.
“I would like to return to Inter, but to play,” Satriano claimed in an interview published in today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Sportsweek magazine.
“I know I still have a lot to learn, but I feel ready, but on the other hand, you only learn by playing.”
Satriano’s playing time at Inter had been limited by the presence of Lautaro Martinez and the return of ex-Nerazzurri striker Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea, but he felt that his style of play was closer to the former.
“I feel that my characteristics are closer to Lautaro’s, aggressive and ‘bad’, when he doesn’t score he gets angry like me.
“In training we talked a lot and he gave me advice; try to do this, hit the ball like that,” Satriano continued.
“We all challenged each other so much, I’m very competitive, I like to bet with my attacking teammates against the goalkeepers, I need it to improve.”
Satriano saw a former Inter Primavera teammate depart the club this summer, as Cesare Casadei completed a switch to Chelsea, and the Uruguay international felt that the midfielder could push on with a loan move too.
“Cesare is younger than me, he did well to go to Chelsea.
“This year he will have the opportunity to train with great champions, then maybe next season he will be able to find some minutes in a smaller team.”
Satriano made his Inter debut under current coach Simone Inzaghi, but was brought into the first-team squad by predecessor Antonio Conte, and he was appreciative of the support of both figures.
“They talked to me a lot,” the 21-year-old claimed.
“They appreciated the fact that I am someone who never gives up, who also chases a ball that seems lost, and told me not to lose this characteristic.
“It’s hard to decide who shouts the most, they both push you on a lot with their voices.
“But also (Paolo) Zanetti, here in Empoli, makes himself heard, and asks us forwards to press a lot.
“It is vital for our way of playing, which requires a quick turnover of the ball,” Satriano concluded.
The former Nacional striker has made 10 appearances for Empoli in all competitions this season, scoring once.
