APPIANO GENTILE – "My team-mates always used to ask me, 'What's your name?' and I'd reply 'Rolando', then they'd say, 'But don't you have a first name?' and I'd reply, 'Rolando'. Now I've told them to call me 'Roli' as it's shorter and quicker to say." The Portuguese defender smiled as he recalled the opening exchange of words he had with his new team-mates after joining Inter.
Speaking on this evening's edition of InterNOS (21:00 on Inter Channel), he then explained what he thought when he heard of Inter's interest. "It gave me a tremendous sense of satisfaction because this is a great club. I was really happy. It's not that I couldn't believe it, because I think I'm good enough to play for this club, but I really wasn't expecting the call when it came."
Rolando went on to talk about where he prefers to play: "I'm learning at the moment because in Portugal I used to play in a back four. I should wait a bit longer before saying what I prefer but I've played everywhere across the back line: on the right, in the middle and on the left. I'm right-footed, I'm playing on the right now and I'd say I've learnt 90% of it. When I first arrived, I was training on the left and at Napoli I was in the centre."
Against Atalanta, he lined up alongside Walter Samuel for the first time: "He's got so much experience, he's a big player and yes, it's easier to play when you have someone like Walter alongside you. He always gives you a hand when you need it. We didn't win unfortunately but I felt very comfortable playing next to him."
On Javier Zanetti: "What is there to say? He's the captain but he's a very normal guy, really down to earth, he's always joking around with everyone."
Talk then turned to his first goal for the club, which came last Saturday against Hellas Verona. "The last time I scored was nearly two years ago at Porto, where I wasn't playing towards the end for non-football reasons. Coming to Inter and scoring that goal was like flashing back through the last few years in a couple of seconds. I hope to score a few more but not too many because I'm a defender," he smiled.
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