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Former Inter and Italy midfielder Stefano Sensi admits he could have played for Barcelona or Manchester City if it wasn\u2019t for his frequent injuries and explains how Novak Djokovic\u2019s book \u2018Serve to Win\u2019 helped him recover his best shape.<\/p>\n
Former Inter midfielder Sensi, now an Anorthosis player in the Cyprus League,\u00a0gave an interview to\u00a0Gazzetta dello Sport about his unfortunate career, marred by numerous<\/span>\u00a0injuries.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old joined the Cypriot side as a free agent last summer after the end of his contract with Monza.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing well, and I\u2019m having fun. I really needed it. I play 90 minutes per game, and I\u2019m in top physical condition, and I\u2019ve made friends with many Cypriots,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fans are incredibly passionate, and the coach is [Mauro] Camoranesi. He arrived here midway through the season. I didn\u2019t know him, and I\u2019ve discovered a beautiful person and a great coach. After months of speaking only English, thanks to him, I\u2019ve been able to dust off my Italian.\u201d<\/p>\n The Italian midfielder admitted that he does not miss living in Italy.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, no. I\u2019m having the experience I wanted. I live in Larnaca, the quietest city on the island,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a quiet person; I don\u2019t need to go partying. Obviously, getting here after living in Milan felt a bit strange.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Sensi was regarded as one of the best Italian midfielders in 2019, when he joined Inter from Sassuolo in a \u20ac25m deal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s such a great memory; a milestone that made me proud. I still think about the day they signed me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was on holiday in Formentera, and my agent surprisingly called me, saying that Ausilio wanted to talk to me. My legs were shaking. I knew everyone would be proud of me back home.\u201d<\/p>\n Sensi had a tremendous impact at San Siro, scoring three goals and providing four assists in his opening six games with the Nerazzurri under Antonio Conte.<\/p>\n The Italian was among the best players on the pitch in Inter\u2019s 2-1 loss away at Barcelona in the Champions League group stage in October 2019, so both the Catalans and Manchester City began following him.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, surely. Certain clubs follow you because they see something important,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we know what happened, and it\u2019s okay; there\u2019s nothing I can do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Just four days after that performance in Barcelona, Sensi sustained the first of his many injuries at Inter. Which clubs could he have played for without all his fitness problems?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to say; many things have happened\u2014perhaps Barcelona or Manchester City, or maybe still at Inter,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n Sensi played only 57 matches with Inter before joining Sampdoria and Monza on loan.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife convinced me to continue and not give up. If I could go back in time, I\u2019d immediately hire a mental coach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI found one three years ago, and I can\u2019t do without him now. You need the right balance; mental coaches are important, but footballers must trust them.\u201d<\/p>\n Sensi also took inspiration from a book.<\/p>\n \u201cI was talking to my friends about my situation when I heard about \u2018Serve to Win\u2019, the book in which Djokovic explained how much he suffered and how he managed to solve his physical problems,\u201d he revealed.<\/p>\n \u201cI bought it and read it. I saw a lot of myself in his story and started following his example. I ate only gluten-free, lactose-free foods and avoided sugar. Before long, I began to feel fit again and, in fact, my injuries became far less frequent.\u201d<\/p>\n The 30-year-old was supposed to be in the Italy squad for the 2021 Euros, but a new injury forced Roberto Mancini to remove him from the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI owe him [Mancini] so much. The national team is not for everyone, and Mancini called me up when I was still playing for Sassuolo,\u201d Sensi concluded.<\/p>\n \u201cHe started me in place of Jorginho, and I immediately felt his trust. Unfortunately, I got injured in the final round of the season. The coach told me to go to Coverciano anyway, but I couldn\u2019t recover in time, and I didn\u2019t win the Euros.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSensi: Inter move \u2018made me proud\u2019<\/h2>\n
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