Udinese boss Andrea Stramaccioni waxed lyrical about the contribution of his captain Antonio Di Natale following their 2-0 win over Empoli on Sunday night.
The veteran striker fired home two second half goals en route to helping the Zebrette pick up their first three points of the new season on the opening weekend.
“Firstly, I must say congratulations to Empoli who made things difficult for us,” he said when talking to Sky Sport Italia.
“I think in the second half we did very well to bring home a well-earned win. Di Natale was really wonderful. He had a super pre-season and had prepared so well so he is now in amazing condition.
“He is not only important in terms of goals but rather his overall contribution to the team he is so crucial.”
Antonio Conte recently named his first Italy squad of which ‘Toto’ was unsurprisingly not selected but that did not stop Stramaccioni fielding questions about a possible return to the Azzurri fold and says he has big plans too for Di Natale’s strike partner Luis Muriel.
“The national team for Antonio? He really is a player of the highest quality but I think it is only right that Conte starts with a new cycle.”
He added: “With Muriel, he is a player of enormous potential and he knows it and I have been working hard with him from day one. To play with two strikers is not easy but I believe new position will bring out the best in him.”
