Tommaso Baldanzi sat down for an exclusive interview with TMW and said that he was ‘very happy’ to have stayed at Empoli last summer.
The 20-year-old is currently injured with a sprained ankle and is not expected back until early December which is a blow for the Azzurri.
During the interview, Baldanzi was asked about this summer’s flirtation with a move to Fiorentina and said: “In the summer there is a lot of talk about the market but I don’t talk about it personally so I don’t know much about it. I am very happy to have stayed here in Empoli, I was very pleased to continue to be part of this company I am very happy to be here and I want to achieve the goals we have set ourselves.”
The attacking midfielder has spent thirteen years at Empoli but was speaking to Fiorentina in the summer and they are likely to go back in for him in January. Empoli know that they will struggle to get a good price or replacement for him and they may try and keep him until next summer.
Baldanzi is knocking on the door of the national team and when asked about it he said: “I think about it and it is every child’s dream but as I said before there are steps to take. I did the Under 20s and I was very happy and proud. Now there’s the Under 21 and we’re going a long way. Then if I keep working it will all come by itself.”
Baldanzi has been fast-tracked through the national team youth teams and has played no more than nine games for any age group. With Sandro Tonali suspended from football and Bryan Cristante picking up an injury as of just a few days ago, there may be a chance for the 20-year-old to put himself in the picture with some good performances when he returns to action.
Finally, Baldanzi was asked about his injury and said: “A player looking for more dribbling is more prone to beatings or injuries like that. I can work on it, as I said before, also from a physical point of view. The ankle sprain though, I don’t think it has much to do with it.”
Baldanzi started seven league games before his injury and scored just the one goal, registering no assists so far this season.
He will be hoping that he can get a run of games together and start to add better stats to go with his performances.
Japtej Ghura | GIFN
Empoli star Tommaso Baldanzi amidst exit talk: “Very happy to have stayed”
