Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi has admitted to turning down a move to Juventus in his younger years – as well as having Inter affections during that time.
He committed his future to the Neroverdi this summer although he could still become a Bianconeri player someday as the league champions do have an option to purchase him in 2016.
Taking a break from pre-season to speak to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 20-year-old said: “I feel I am a product of Sassuolo and I’m as happy here, as I would be in Calabria. For me, this is a fairytale: One day I was a kid standing behind Pomini’s goal as a ball boy and the next I was his teammate.
“Juve is Juve, they are a great club and next year everything is open but I don’t want to talk about it. I will talk about one story though, in 2006 when I was 12, a Juventus scout came to watch me in a tournament.
“He wanted to take me to Turin immediately, but I refused because I did not want to leave my family or my home. I remember that I cried at the thought of going away.”
When the shy striker, who has over 30 goals in just two top flight seasons despite his tender years, opened up on his personal life, he spoke about which player he feels he most identifies with and also admitted to his Nerazzurri past.
“I like to watch Messi for his technique and class, Ibrahimovic for his power and skill but as a player, I feel I am most like Robben,” he confessed. “But I am just a quiet person who loves his work.
“As a kid, I was an Inter fan but now I cheer only for motorists – namely Ferrari and Valentino Rossi. I live in Modena, am engaged to a Sassuolo girl called Francesca and my friends in football are my teammates and Marco Benassi at Torino.”
