Nicolo Casale looked back at his first half-season with Lazio and recounted some of the highlights so far.
The 25-year-old Italian centre back joined the Biancocelesti on a five-year deal from Hellas Verona last summer in a deal worth around €7 million, adding a defensively strong and creative defender to Maurizio Sarri’s new project.
Since his arrival, Casale has formed a formidable partnership with Alessio Romagnoli, helping create a tighter defence ahead of goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.
Speaking to Lazio Style Channel (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) on his 25th birthday, Casale first looked back at Lazio’s recent 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona.
It was very emotional for me against Verona. It was strange for me because I went from being on the pitch to playing against them in just a few months.
Verona is the city where I grew up, it’s the team I’m a fan of but I can get this out of my head and as a professional I always give my all. They’ll do very well again in this season.
He spoke a little about his start with his new club Lazio.
Here I had a period of adaptation. It’s a different way of playing compared to Verona, I’ve worked and been ready.
You always have to prove you can do well. The coach believes in me, he makes us work a lot on the defensive phase. Sarri is maniacal and that’s why we’re doing well as a defence and as a team.
The 25-year-old commented on some of his teammates in the Italian capital.
I get on well with Romagnoli, but the few games I played with Patric also went well. There’s harmony and that’s important. I felt at home in the group right away.
I already knew some, like Zaccagni and Cancellieri. I was also well received by the more experienced ones. I bonded with everyone, we have a great relationship.
He commented on the Italy national team and his desire to break into Roberto Mancini’s squad.
There are very few Italians in the top clubs. I think it’s important for the club to work on this. In football it’s important to have a block of players who can be found.
Mancini will evaluate, we’re doing well as a team and that’s why we have our eyes on them.
Casale discussed his family and life off and on the pitch.
My dad said years ago ‘If I have a boy, I don’t want him to play football’. My grandfather, who has since passed away, on the other hand, pushed for the sport because he saw that I had a talent for it.
In the end it worked out well, even though my dad grew up saying ‘I don’t want him to be a defender’. I am a simple, humble person and often my family and my girlfriend tell me ‘remember what your role is off the pitch’.
Sometimes I forget that I am a professional because I feel ‘normal’. I go onto the pitch with tension but then I manage to be calm.
He explained why he joined the Biancocelesti last summer.
I’ve followed Lazio a lot because over the years I’ve seen that the fans, with that of Verona, get along well. I’ve always been attracted by this club, it was my first choice.
Playing more now and being young on the pitch I think ‘let’s leave it to the more experienced’ but it’s right to be heard.
The impact with the Stadio Olimpico was beautiful, I knew the Lazio fans were warm. On my first goal, I got shivers hearing my surname being shouted.
He gave his thoughts on the Europa Conference League this season.
We are here and we want to win. I think a win against Cluj will give us confidence after these games.
There are good teams in the Conference League, if we get through these rounds there will be good games.
Finally, Casale spoke about how Lazio’s Serie A season has gone so far.
I’ve already been booked in a few games, I’ll try to be careful especially now that Alessio has had the little problem. Four or five points are missing, but we’re sixth, everything is still open and it’s time not to make any more mistakes.
There’s great balance in the league, I watched Sampdoria-Inter yesterday, apart from Napoli it’s a very close season. Whoever makes fewer mistakes stays in the Champions League.
Do we drop in the second half? We have to show that we bring that approach in the second half too, when we make that leap, we’ll enjoy it. I understand the fans at this moment.
We always want to win, to give our best, we don’t always succeed by playing so often but the head is there and we want to stay on top until the end.
