APPIANO GENTILE - Ezequiel Schelotto and Inter, together at last. The Argentine wideman was presented to the media at a press conference today and this is what he had to say: "I knew some of the players here already because I've played with them before. I've always wanted to join this club. The negotiations didn't exactly go smoothly but I'm here at last and it feels like I've always been here because my team-mates, the club and the coach have given me a really warm welcome right from the start. I'm happy with my choice."
Asked about his position on the pitch, Schelotto said that "the formation doesn't matter, playing is the main thing. I've already spoken to Stramaccioni, he's explained what he wants from me and I'm going to repay him for his faith. I've always played in a 4-4-2 since coming to Italy. At the moment I'd probably prefer to play on the wing if Inter let me. Prandelli's praise? I'm proud and happy about the things he said, but at the moment I'm just thinking about Inter and being a success here."
The negotiations to bring Schelotto to Inter became somewhat drawn out, as the player explained himself: "My agents and family kept encouraging me, telling me to be patient. It was just a case of waiting, now it's all in the past and I'm only thinking about the present. I was never really worried that the deal might not come off and as you can see I'm here now."
The Argentine midfielder went on: "I was happy at Atalanta. I understand they would have rather kept me until the end of the season but I had to make a choice about my life. Inter offered me this opportunity and all I can do is thank Bergamo for everything they did for me. I gave my all for the Atalanta shirt, from the first moment to the last. Now I'm wearing the same black and blue here but I'm an Inter player - that's not a train that passes every day."
Schelotto played alongside Yuto Nagatomo at Cesena: "I think he's a more mature player. We only spent six months on the same team but now, having been on opposite sides several times, we're team-mates again. I'm happy to see that he's developed his game. He came here and has been able to show what he can do."
Finally, Schelotto restated which player is his role model: "I've always said that it's Javier Zanetti. There's nothing more to say. You all know what sort of a person he is both on and off the pitch. I hope I can follow in his footsteps."
