«I was inspired by Quagliarella»- Corriere.it

«The action was very fast and the ball was in possession of the opponents who were attacking in our half of the pitch, there was a contrast: Gennaro Tutino pressed and recovered the ball, at which point I thought about shooting directly on goal. Everything happened quickly, I sensed that the goalkeeper was far from the goal, I took aim and shot». As Valerio VerrePalermo midfielder, tells al Corriere della Sera the extraordinary goal he scored in the Serie B match against Frosinone. A spectacular goal – for many the goal of the year – in a Palermo seventh in the standings and scored in front of 29,000 spectators (a new seasonal record for home attendance for the Sicilian team).

“I aimed at the goal aiming to climb over the goalkeeper – says Verre -. My father told me several times: he observes that goalkeepers often tend to move away from the goal line in some moments of the game, with their team in attack. It’s something I’ve meditated on and I’ve also trained in this perspective. I scored a similar goal but from a shorter distance in another important Pescara-Trapani match, in the playoffs».

Were you excited after the goal?

«Honestly, I felt the strong emotion when I heard the roar of the stadium, when I saw the fans celebrating, our goalkeeper putting his hands on his head for joy. I didn’t immediately realize the level of technical difficulty of my goal, I understood it with a cold head. I was happy for the goal, but above all impressed by the extraordinary celebration in the stadium. These are images that will remain in my mind, and I am pleased to have contributed to the positive result of my team».

His goal reminded some of Maradona’s technical repertoire. Who is a player who inspired you?

«On a technical and aesthetic level, a player I learned from was Quagliarella, a high-quality striker. The period at Sampdoria was a good experience».

From Genoa to Palermo, seaside cities bring them good…

«I found myself well in various seaside cities, including Pescara. Beyond the sports plan, the sea makes the difference for me».

You have played with various coaches and in important teams, do you have a special memory?

«I learned from all the coaches I’ve had, with them I grew up on a sporting and human level. It doesn’t seem right to mention one at the expense of the other. I remember them all fondly.”

Aim for Serie A already this year. Can Palermo do it?

«We are growing as a game, we are a team that works and is very committed, well led by Mr. Corini. We work in synergy and harmony, we always aim to improve, which is a fundamental aspect. Ours is a well-constructed project, we need to commit ourselves day after day. If we reach the playoffs, driven by our extraordinary crowd, we will certainly continue to give our best. With passion and humility. Certainly Palermo’s extraordinary crowd deserves Serie A».

What does he do when he’s not training?

«I have a four-month-old daughter, I dedicated the goal to her and my wife. I really like being with my family.”