Lorenzo Mezzotero, a player for Azerbaijan's U-21 national team and Sampdoria, has given an interview to Offsideplus.az.

The 18-year-old forward spoke about his call-up to the national team following the Azerbaijan-Gibraltar match, his performances at Sampdoria, his connection to Azerbaijan, and his future goals. Here is the interview:

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

— It is a great honour for me to play for the Azerbaijan national team. I have always said that playing for the Azerbaijan national team is my dream. Now I am taking small steps forward, and my call-up to the U-21 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 hard, and I hope that one day I will debut for the senior national team. I want to make both myself and everyone else happy.

— You did not start in the line-up for this call-up. How do you assess your performance?

— Overall, I think I can do more. I know my capabilities and what I am capable of. I believe I played well today, I was eager and performed strongly. But I think I can do more. I want to achieve more, especially in terms of scoring goals. Because I am a forward, playing in the "number 9" position, and my main goal is to score. The most important thing is to help the team and myself.

— How is your situation at Sampdoria?

— I made my debut for the first team at Sampdoria, and I am very happy about that. I am working hard and pursuing my dreams. I am also scoring goals in the academy, playing a lot, and I am satisfied with that. Additionally, I am the captain of the team. Therefore, I continue to work hard and pursue my dreams.

— Everyone knows about your love for Neftchi...

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

— So, do you only want to play in Europe during your career?

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

— How has your return to Azerbaijan been memorable for you?

— I lived in Azerbaijan for six years, and it feels like home to me. Every time I return, I am welcomed very warmly. That is why this place is my homeland. I spent my entire childhood here from the age of six to twelve. Every time I come to Azerbaijan, I feel like I am returning home. I have also met a group of young and experienced players here who are helping me a lot. I couldn't be happier about that.

— A while ago, you mentioned that you knew a few Azerbaijani words but had forgotten them. Now that you are in Azerbaijan, do you remember any words?

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