These are Davide Zappacosta’s first hours as an Atalanta player. Priority was given to medical tests, then he signed his new contract and then released his first interview as a Nerazzurri player.
He arrived in Bergamo for the first time in January 2011, when he was 19, to play in the Primavera. He made his Serie A debut in the Nerazzurri shirt on 31 August 2014. He made 29 appearances and scored three goals that season. His first goal in the top flight was scored on 6 January 2015 against Genoa, who were trained by Gian Piero Gasperini back then. Now, after gaining important experience also internationally, Davide Zappacosta wears again the Nerazzurri shirt and returns to Bergamo.
“It all started here in Bergamo, as Atalanta launched my senior career. It makes me proud to have come back here as a man.
I still remember when I came here as a young kid and I still had to finish school. And now I’m here, being 29 years old, with a lot of experience behind me. I think I have grown a lot, hopefully, I can help the team.”
Davide has grown, so have Atalanta, as Zappacosta finds them in the Champions League.
“My first year in Serie A with Atalanta was quite difficult because we had to fight for safety. It was an odd year, it wasn’t easy. And now, on the other hand, I find an Atalanta side that have grown from many points of view, starting from the club, the team to the sports centre. They have grown a lot and I think they worked with simplicity and seriousness, so I think they deserve it all.”
Davide returns to the Bortolotti Training Centre in Zingonia, the home of Atalanta has profoundly changed over the last few years.
“I find my bearings here because I remember everything quite well. One fun fact about this is that last night, coming from London, I drove by the ‘Casa del Giovane’ (House of the Young) where I stayed for six months when I arrived here. I have to tell the truth: I felt intense emotions and I got goosebumps because it takes me back over the years. And if I look back on my path, all the sacrifices I have made, it was very touching.”
Despite being distant, he has always followed the achievements of the team with special affection, the one you feel for the club that launched your professional career.
“Sure. I have followed them. I have always kept an eye on Atalanta because there is always a special bond between me and the team. As I said before, it allowed me to make my Serie A debut and get myself in the spotlight. Seeing them play in the Champions League, against teams of a certain level, playing on a par with all the important European teams has always pleased me, it has always been a nice thing to see. It’s a team that plays very well, it’s nice to watch.”
Davide Zappacosta is happy and grateful to those who have always had faith in him.
“I really wanted to thank the Percassi family and the coach for [giving me this opportunity], as it shows they have great faith in me; it’s a unique and delicate time for everybody, so it’s not easy to invest. Therefore, I’m very happy because they made a sacrifice and I know it. I had the chance to speak with the President and Luca [Percassi] several times, I have already thanked them but I wanted to also to thank the Percassi family publicly. I also wanted to thank my agent Alessandro Lucci and his agency, who worked hard behind the scenes. So, thanks to all of them.”
Now it’s time to make himself available to the coach and run fast on the flank.
“Personally, I don’t like to set goals, in the sense that I prefer to work on a day-to-day basis. I arrived here to make myself available to the coach and the team. I will certainly try to give more than my 100% and try to go beyond my limits. That’s why I don’t like to set limits. I always try to give my best, and once achieved, to go further. I will certainly try to do as much as possible”.