Manolo Gabbiadini has been speaking to the Italian media after his two goals for Southampton against Newcastle United hopefully signalled a kickstart to his season.
It was the first time the likeable striker had found the back of the net since August, and he hasn’t exactly been a mainstay of Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton team.
Gazzetta dello Sport asked Gabbiadini what he thinks the two goals against Newcastle have changed for him, and the Italian was clear… he hopes Pellegrino now picks him regularly.
“I hope they allow me to be more present. A footballer trains and gives the best of himself during the week with this goal: playing the game.”
If Gabbiadini wasn’t so keen on playing every week then he wouldn’t have left Napoli in the first place, it was his whole motivation for joining Southampton.
Knowing that regular football would be needed to get a place in Italy’s squad, Gabbiadini moved in plenty of time for the World Cup, and at first it looked like a perfect solution.
Things have stuttered since, but the 25 year old still has that clear aim of representing his country in Russia next summer: “The World Cup is my goal. The blue jersey is really something special.”
Spending the interview singing the praises of Napoli and Bologna as places to live, Gabbiadini managed to share something positive he’s found out whilst touring Southampton: “There is the oldest pub in the United Kingdom, it’s called Royal Oak. The mugs of the famous characters who have been there over the centuries are hanging and preserved on its walls.”
