Among the youngest boys in the gathering is Leonardo Faggian. Despite being born in 2004, Leo already has experience in Serie A. In Treviso, his city of birth, he collected three seasons in the top flight, also deserving the Azzurro of the Youth National Team.
Now the Senior gathering: “I’m happy – says Leonardo – to be here with the boys. I had met Poz at an Under 20 national team meeting a couple of years ago and he told me that if I continued to train and grow he would call me up. He kept his promise and the call was fun too, I was in the car. Now I’m really happy to be able to train with these champions. As soon as I saw Danilo Gallinari in the list, a photo I took with him in Ghirada 12 years ago came to mind. Finding him here is a thrill.”
Born in Treviso, as mentioned, but with South American origins: “Both my parents were born in Argentina and in 1990 they moved to Italy. My grandparents on the other hand are Italian. I started playing basketball watching my older brother. I went to watch him during games and followed him in training until I signed up for basketball at the age of 5.”
Having grown up as a basketball player in the Nutribullet youth team, Leo was included in the squad of the five best Under 22s last season and also had the opportunity to make his debut in Europe in the Champions League. “I came from a very small club – he says – and arriving in Treviso was wonderful. In the club they immediately gave me many opportunities, believing in me right from the start. Marcelo Nicola had the courage to let me play even though I was very young: he is not a given at all.”
After the meeting with the Senior team, the Under 20 European Championship in Poland: “I was already happy with coach Galbiati’s call-up for the category European championship and being here is a further boost for the next steps. As a player I can do and give a lot. Among my idols is Alessandro Gentile but I do my best to satisfy the team’s requests.”
