Camarda admits to ‘skipping steps’ in development and names ‘biggest sacrifice’

Francesco Camarda has admitted that he feels he has missed steps in his development as a player, due to his rapid rise to prominence.

Few players have generated as many headlines as Camarda has at his young age, and with good reason. The striker is believed by many to be the one who will lead the line for Milan and Italy in the future, even though he is currently on loan at Lecce.

It has been a positive past couple of weeks for Camarda, who netted his first Serie A goal and then scored three goals in two games for Italy U21s against Sweden and Armenia during the current break. He seems to have really hit his stride, with the hope being that more goals follow.

Camarda: My biggest sacrifice

Camarda gave an interview to Cronache di Spogliatoio from the Italy U21 training camp offering his thoughts on his growth as an athlete, a professional and a man. MilanPress transcribed his words.

“I’ve skipped a lot of steps, and it’s obvious to everyone. This also leads to various changes, starting with my diet. You have to start following one, not so much because you have to, but for yourself,” he said.

“I’m very focused on my own path. If I have to face a defender I know or don’t know, I study him thoroughly, maybe which side he prefers to advance to, things that are useful on the pitch. Being with the older players, you have to quickly get used to catching up with them, and then you have to improve yourself.

Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

“Nutrition is the biggest sacrifice for me. Maybe not eating dessert bothers me, but these are things you have to do because on a personal level I have goals, I want to achieve them, and so you have to make a lot of sacrifices. Mentality.

“This is our job, and in our job you have to pay attention to various points. Nutrition is one of them, training is the most important, and off-court training. There are some things you have to be perfect at.

” When you play for the national team, you have to play with pride, a lot of love, a lot of passion. You compete with international players, whether it’s for Sweden or other nations. It’s always a wonderful experience. Unlike at the club, here we’re all Italian, and it’s easier to joke around.

“The group is very good, and I think that’s been evident on the pitch and will continue to be. First and foremost, you have to put the team together: we attack and defend together. In today’s football, there’s no longer a position where you just sit still; you have to be willing to help the team.”