Italy - I love the late-night culture, hanging around the square at midnight with everyone, catching up and having a drink.
My life was an unending, unchanging midnight. It must, by necessity, always be midnight for me. So how was it possible that the sun was rising now, in the middle of my midnight?
I love Italy; in Italy, I grew up like a man and like a player. I felt Italy like a family.
My satisfaction is the people. They are very in love with what I represent for them. I represent what my grandfather did for Italy, a new generation, a future for the youth: a commitment in life, not just passing by.
I am proud to be Italian because I was born in Italy, I grew up in Italy, I went to school in Italy and I have worked in Italy. I'm Italian.
I love Italy and I say I am from Italy wherever I go.
In thy youth wast as true a lover, As ever sighed upon a midnight pillow
But Italy is not an intellectual country. On the subway in Tokyo everybody reads. In Italy, they don't. Don't evaluate Italy from the fact that it produced Raphael and Michelangelo.
Italy is not widely thought of as a pioneer of youth culture in the way, say, the UK is.
Italy, my Italy! Queen Mary's saying serves for me (When fortune's malice Lost her Calais): "Open my heart, and you will see Graved inside of it 'Italy.'"
My goal, in general, is to make music for the youth that the youth can love. Not only just for the youth but almost be their voice. Just show that they can do whatever they want.
At the end of the day, I connect very closely with the youth. I love the youth. I love the young people.
In Italy there is less faith in youth but I believe that if a player is good enough then he should play regardless.
I spent my first two years as a professional with Mapei in Italy, on their youth team. We rode in minor races. Doping wasn't an issue. S
I've met my bride-to-be in Italy and I will be married in Italy soon, in a couple of weeks. In Venice of all places! In closing, I guess what I would like to say is to my bride-to-be, Amal, that I love you very much and I can't wait to be your husband.
Love, unrequited, robs me of my rest:
Love, hopeless love, my ardent soul encumbers:
Love, nightmare-like, lies heavy on my chest,
And weaves itself into my midnight slumbers!