Lorenzo Mezzotero, a player for Azerbaijan U-21 national team and Sampdoria, spoke to Offsideplus.az.

The 18-year-old forward spoke about his call-up to the Azerbaijan U-21 national team following the Azerbaijan–Gibraltar match, his performances for Sampdoria, his connection to Azerbaijan and his future ambitions. Here is the full interview:

— What can you say about being called up to the Azerbaijan U-21 national team?

— It is a great honour for me to play for the Azerbaijan national team. I have always said that playing for Azerbaijan is my dream. Now I am taking small steps forward, and being called up to the U-21 national team is one of those steps. Of course, it is a big step, but compared to the senior national team, it is still a small one. I am very happy, I am working very hard, and I hope that one day I will get the chance to make my debut for the senior national team. I want to make both myself and everyone else happy.

— You did not start the game in this call-up. How would you assess your performance?

— Overall, I think I can do more. I know my abilities and what I am capable of. I think I played well today as well. I showed desire and strength, but I believe I can do more. I want to contribute more, especially by scoring more goals. I am a striker, I play as a number nine, and my main objective is to score goals. The most important thing is to help both the team and myself.

— How are things going for you at Sampdoria?

— I made my debut for Sampdoria's first team, and I am very happy about that. I am still working hard and chasing my dreams. I am also scoring goals and playing a lot with the academy, and I am happy about that. I am also the captain of the team. So, I will continue working hard and pursuing my dreams.

— Everyone also knows about your love for Neftçi...

— Neftçi will always be in my heart. I hope that, before I finish my career, I can play for Neftçi again one day. We will see what the future holds. But this club will always be in my heart because Neftçi was my first love.

— So, does that mean you want to play only in Europe throughout your career?

— Yes, of course. My goal is to play for the biggest clubs in the world. I hope that one day I will play for Manchester United. That is my dream. Let's see what happens in the future.

— What has your return to Azerbaijan been like for you?

— I lived in Azerbaijan for six years, and this place feels like home to me. Every time I come back, I receive such a warm welcome. That is why this is a very special place for me. I spent my entire childhood here, from the age of six to twelve. Every time I come to Azerbaijan, I feel like I am coming home. I have also met a group of young and experienced players here, and they have helped me a lot. I couldn't be happier about that.

— Some time ago, you said that you knew a few words in Azerbaijani but had forgotten them. Now that you are back in Azerbaijan, have you remembered any of them?

— Of course. “Hello, how are you? I am fine, thank you very much.”