Paola Egonu visits the BPER Training Centre

“I’m so excited, it’s such an honour to be here – it’s not something I take for granted at all. Meeting Lautaro was an incredible moment for me, especially having the chance to talk with him and exchange a few thoughts. There’s so much I can learn from him. What I admire about football, and Lautaro in particular, is the bond you see between teammates, the mutual respect and the affection they share. That’s something I’ll look to draw inspiration from in my own way. Volleyball is a completely different world, but there are so many similarities: the love and passion from the fans, their support, the emotion they bring. My passion for Inter started when I was little, when I watched a match with my dad. From that moment I always dreamed of seeing them live, and that dream eventually came true. With my sporting career it’s not always easy to follow every game, but I always try to check the results or watch the highlights after training, and whenever I can get to the stadium, I love to go. I’m very proud of the national team, of the journey we’ve taken and of winning the World Championship after so many years. It was a dream come true, but what will stay with me most is sharing it with my teammates: we always fought together and, after so many sacrifices, we reached that goal. For me, it’s an honour to be part of this movement – Italian volleyball is reaching its peak. I’m glad that making Italy dream can also bring so many kids closer to volleyball. I believe a captain shouldn’t try to change who they are: they need to find their own balance, and that’s what I’m working on now that I’ve become captain of Vero Volley. At the end of the day you’re still a player; you have to pursue your own goals, but always keep the whole team in mind. Maybe it’s easier said than done, but I believe that’s the most important quality of a captain”