From a summer waiter to the Euro Cup: “My father came to Italy by boat”

Krstjan Asllanimidfielder Interis Albanian but has lived in Italy since he was 2 years old, so this Saturday’s debut against the ‘Azzurra’ will be a very special game for this player who only 3 years ago was working as a waiter in summer time.

Asllani (Elbasan, 2002), although he always delivered more than on the field, he had a secondary role in an Inter team full of talent from Simone Inzaghi champion of the ‘Scudetto’, but at 22 years old he is one of the main players of Albania Sylvinho and Pablo Zabaletaa team that will play in the second Euro Cup in its history after the success of the participation in 2016.

He was raised in Italy but his roots are Albanian: “My blood is Albanian, at home I speak the language occasionally. And with my grandparents from Albania I keep my roots alive. “If I am in Tirana with the national team and I have an afternoon free, I will go to my grandparents in Elbasan,” he revealed in an interview with the ‘Corriere della Sera’.

“My father came to Italy on a boat and told me how hard life was in Albania. I was taken by my mother when I was 18 and it was not easy. They suffered a lot and what they did for for me and for my brother Leonardo, who is 13 years old, it’s priceless: It seems like I can’t pay, but I’m trying,” he added.

howsoever, Asllani He tries to reward his parents’ efforts.

“When I signed Inter I took everything with me Milan, also because everyone speaks well of the city, but to a 21-year-old living there alone it would be a disaster. “My mother worked in a candy factory, my father in the water company and in the summer he was in the sun all day: now life has changed,” he acknowledged.

In fact, until three summers ago he was a waiter and with his friends on the street as they celebrated Italy’s victory at Euro 2021. Now he is on the verge of debuting in European Cup definitely against Italy. It couldn’t be more special for him.

“I would be lying if I said it was just one game, because I was playing against a lot of teammates from Inter. It’s a shame that the group is so difficult, but we want to do well and open a cycle to try to qualify for the World Cup. “There’s a good mix of veterans and youngsters,” he added.

Furthermore, he spoke about Sylvinhocoach: “He brought enthusiasm, confidence to us, desire to grow. The group changed with him and the results came. I don’t know if Italy need to worry, but we will do our best for our fans, who will be many”, warned.