Emanuel Ercolano, 15, on San Siro experience and earning Samp stripes

Emanuel Ercolano is living the Sampdoria dream and loving every minute of it. Not many 15-year-olds get the chance to train with the senior squad and fewer still have experienced San Siro with the first team, but that’s exactly what happened to the young Doria full-back in February.

“From the moment I saw my jersey hanging in the dressing room until I actually stepped out onto the pitch I thought about all the sacrifices I had made and my family had made,” he recalls. “All the hard work paid off.”

Emanuel – who doesn’t turn 16 until October – is not getting carried away, though. After the high of San Siro he has set his sights on more modest goals.

“I’m focused on the U16s and U17s this year and hope to get promoted to the Primavera team next season. I’ll try to keep doing well whenever I train with [Marco] Giampaolo. I’d like to do pre-season with the first team!”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Samp TV, Ercolano discusses his call-up for the AC Milan match, getting advice from the seniors – including his home-town idol Fabio Quagliarella – and playing in different positions.

Watch the full interview below.