Walter Zenga warned Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli “won’t come to Sampdoria. We need different types of people here.”

President Massimo Ferrero has often spoken in public about his interest in bringing the ex-Parma and current Liverpool strikers to Marassi, but his Coach is unimpressed.

“I don’t think the President has different ideas to mine. We are a group who work in the same direction with the same ideas,” Zenga insisted to Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Walter Zenga warned Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli “won’t come to Sampdoria. We need different types of people here.”

President Massimo Ferrero has often spoken in public about his interest in bringing the ex-Parma and current Liverpool strikers to Marassi, but his Coach is unimpressed.

“I don’t think the President has different ideas to mine. We are a group who work in the same direction with the same ideas,” Zenga insisted to Il Fatto Quotidiano.

“I joked that we could offer Balotelli some boots, a jersey and the joy of stepping on to the field at Marassi hearing the Sampdoria fans sing.

“We need different types of people here. There are some players who would struggle in certain teams. In any case, Balotelli won’t come here, so it’s not an issue that needs to be discussed.

“At Sampdoria we need people who have a sense of belonging. To get those extra two points we need to love the shirt we’re wearing. This is the best jersey in the world and we can play great football, facing everyone with an open approach.

“Historically Samp have always had this capacity to entertain and fight against any opponent. Our motto in the locker room is ‘The ball is never out. The game is never over.’

“I get along with President Ferrero because he is a real person. I’ve been here a month and a half, but it feels like six years.”

Zenga said it was his dream to be Coach of Inter and last year that almost came true.

“I am an Interista and my blood runs Nerazzurro, but my second team was always Sampdoria. I had this good fortune, that in Serie A I played for the only two teams I really supported. Inter is a closed book when it comes to my professional career. Thinking and saying ‘my dream is to coach Inter’ becomes tiring in the long run.

“It never happened because they chose others or the timing wasn’t right. I was under contract and expecting a child imminently one time, another I had an opponent like Roberto Mancini.

“I never took those near misses as defeats, but as positive moments. I remember Marco Branca called me to say I was in the running, but unfortunately I had just signed in Saudi Arabia, so they got Gian Piero Gasperini instead.

“I signed a one-year contract at Sampdoria because I don’t want to be a burden on anyone. I wasn’t looking for money, but rather a project that could get butterflies in my stomach, something I could believe in blindly.

“We have clear objectives: Europa League qualification, achieving 40 points in Serie A as quickly as possible and attacking the Coppa Italia as a priority.”

The first test will be the Europa League preliminary round against Serbians Vojvodina.

“They will be a tough nut to crack. I know Serbian teams well and the Europa League is a spotlight for players to earn contracts at bigger clubs.

“If we play with focus, organisation and the right determination, we will qualify. If we let go and take the away fixture as an inconvenience, then we could very well be sent packing.”

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