Manuel Locatelli has admitted that his “ambitions” are to play for one of the “great teams” but is adamant about working hard to earn his place at Sassuolo.
The midfielder moved permanently to the MAPEI Stadium ahead of this season, when the Neroverdi paid €10m for the 22-year-old after a successful stint on loan last season.
Locatelli has a lot of “confidence” after playing 19 games in the League this term and feels like he is “growing” under coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Manuel Locatelli has admitted that his “ambitions” are to play for one of the “great teams” but is adamant about working hard to earn his place at Sassuolo.
The midfielder moved permanently to the MAPEI Stadium ahead of this season, when the Neroverdi paid €10m for the 22-year-old after a successful stint on loan last season.
Locatelli has a lot of “confidence” after playing 19 games in the League this term and feels like he is “growing” under coach Roberto De Zerbi.
“I have more continuity in my game, I read the situations better and I’m more convinced about it,” Maran told DAZN. “I feel more confident in myself, it’s not that I couldn’t play low in the trident. I was only put there and I played the role according to my characteristics.
“Then I grew physically and mentally, and I can play all three roles. My favourite is to play left in a midfield duo, but I can also play in a three.
“I have to score more goals,” he admitted. “De Zerbe pushes you to give 100 per cent in every training. After winning a game, you train hard the next day. This mental continuity helps and conditions you by force.”
Despite only staying two seasons at Sassuolo so far, he doesn’t hide the fact that he is aiming higher than his current club from Modena.
“I would like to return to a great team, I’m ambitious,” he added. “I don’t know how long it will take me. I hope to get there as soon as possible but I won’t make any mental trips. I only think about pushing hard at training and stay in the now.”