10 questions for Diego Perotti

Tasked with finding out a little bit more about Giallorossi forward Diego Perotti, we tracked the man down at Trigoria with 10 questions to pose.

From Riquelme to Totti, Old Trafford to the Santiago Bernabeu - check out his answers and prepare for a whistle-stop tour through his first steps as a footballer and most treasured memory from the game…

1. Who was your idol growing up?

“When I started playing, Juan Roman Riquelme was my favourite player and the guy I tried to learn from. I was a big fan when I was young – he was playing at Boca at the time and went on to have great success. I followed his career when he played in Europe too, at Barcelona and Villarreal, who he reached the Champions League semi-finals with. For me, he was always the best around.”

2. Did you play any other sports before starting out in football?

“Yeah, I played basketball and did swimming. I preferred basketball though – I played it for eight years. I’ve been playing football since I was four years old, and when I was ten I had to give up basketball because I had started training with Boca every day. I used to finish school at half past one and eat lunch in my mum’s car as she drove me to training, which would finish at gone seven. I had no time for anything else.”

3. What position did you play when you started?

“I played in the same position as my idol Riquelme. I wanted to be exactly like him. In Argentina we call that position the enganche – it means the player in the hole behind the strikers.”

4. What memories do you have of your professional debut?

“I made my debut at the age of 18, for Deportivo Moron, in the Argentine third tier. I was really nervous, but we managed a 1-1 draw away at Cambaceres. It was an amazing moment after the journey I’d been on to get there. I didn’t achieve my aim of making my debut for Boca in the Primera Division, but I was really happy all the same. I was still young and it seems a long time ago looking back from where I am now, but it was a happy moment.”

5. Is there a particular match you have fond memories of?

“Definitely the match when I scored my first goal for Sevilla. It was a header in the 92nd minute against Deportivo La Coruna. The score was locked at 0-0 but my goal meant we secured third spot and qualified for the Champions League group stages. It was a unique feeling that I will never forget.”

6. Who’s the toughest opponent you’ve ever played against?

“Manuel Pablo from Deportivo La Coruna. Even though he was coming to the end of his career, every time I came up against him I always found it tough going. Sometimes I’d managed to dribble past him, but he’d always get back on top of me.”

7. And who’s the best player you’ve ever played with?

“I could give you loads of names. I’ve been lucky enough to play and train with Riquelme, though we didn’t actually spend too much time on the pitch together due to injuries. Now I have the pleasure of sharing a field with Francesco Totti, the most important player in the history of Roma. From my Sevilla days I’d say Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano, two strikers who found the net basically every time I passed to them.”

8. Best stadium you’ve played at?

“The Santiago Bernabeu. For me, it’s the best around. When you walk out onto the pitch and look up, it’s like it never ends – it’s crazy. I’ve played there for both Sevilla and Roma. It was a great feeling to play at Old Trafford too, but the Bernabeu is next level.”

9. Who’s been the biggest influence on your career?

“Definitely my mother. It wasn’t easy in the beginning for me. Some players get to the top division straight away, but for one reason or another I had to really fight hard and deal with some dark moments. She was always by my side, taking me wherever I needed to go. She’d be up at seven in the morning every day to get me to training on time. My whole family supported me, but she was the most important person for my career.”

10. What’s the best part of being a footballer?

“Having the chance to play at the stadium every weekend. I’ve been playing professionally for ten years but every time I’m about to take to the field I get that nervous, anxious feeling – though I have to say I like it that way. When I think forward to the day I retire, I get scared about not having that feeling anymore. I’ve fought so hard to be a footballer and it’s a job I love. The other great thing is that it means I can spend lots of time with my family.”