Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Graziano Pelle: First senior Italy call-up means patience has finally paid off

At the age of 29, Graziano Pelle says he is ready for his first taste of international football, six years after it seemed his hopes of representing his country had gone for good.

The Southampton striker was called up for the first time to the senior Italy squad this week, over 10 years after he made his Serie A debut, and after playing for nine different clubs.

"Better late than never," said the much-travelled forward, who now appears to have found his home -- in Southampton, and with Italy.

"I've now reached my total maturity physically and mentally," added Pelle at a news conference.

"I've got rid of some of my defects and I've joined a club where the manager [Ronald Koeman] has shown a lot of faith in me, and this has led to me performing better."

Few would have predicted Pelle's arrival in the national team when, after spells with Lecce, Catania, Crotone and Cesena, he decided to pack his bags and move abroad in 2007.

It was a move which paid dividends. Under Louis van Gaal, Pelle won the Dutch Eredivisie title at AZ Alkmaar and got his first taste of Champions League football. He was also called up to the Italy squad for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"It's great to get experience of playing abroad," Pelle said. "You live the sport in a different manner, with more serenity.

"I've talked about it with [Ciro] Immobile too. In Italy, we're used to complaining all the time, but as soon as the stadiums are put right and the people want to watch the games again, ours will return to being the best football in the world."

After almost 100 appearances in the Dutch top flight, Pelle returned to Italy for spells with Parma and Sampdoria before returning to Netherlands and joining Feyenoord in 2012.

Backed by the recommendation of 50 goals in 57 games, he joined the Saints in the summer. Four Premier League goals later, his dream has come true.

"It's such a special emotion to be back in the national team," said the 29-year-old.

"It's amazing to be part of this squad of players. If I get the chance, I want to show the coach my worth on the field.

"I've had to go a long way to get here and if it's taken me so long, then it can only be my own fault, but it's all good now I've made it here in the end."

Pelle could pick up his first senior cap for Antonio Conte's side against Azerbaijan on Friday, or in Malta next Monday.

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