By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Danilo Gallinari will start practicing on Monday with the Italian national team for what will be his last games with his country’s jersey.
Just days after winning his first championship title on a club level, in Puerto Rico, Gallinari, one of the biggest European talents of his generation, who unfortunately has a career plagued with injuries, wants to make a last big splash with the national team, setting the bar high.
As he said to “La Gazzetta dello Sport”, his last goal is winning a medal with Italy.
“I’m missing a medal with the national team, and then I can be happy”, said Gallinari, admitting also that this will be his last tournament with the Italian national team.
As he explained, “It’s also hard to evaluate what could have been. I started with the “Azzurri” at 17-18 years old, when the 2004 Olympic group was still there, and of all the possible summers since then, I missed eight. That’s a lot. Sometimes I wonder what could have happened if I had played those eight summers too — better not to think about it. Every summer, anything can happen, even this one… I don’t want to put pressure on the guys, but honestly, I see a team that I think is strong and can do well. I expect a lot from this group. I’m fired up for this, especially since it will be my last time with the national team, which adds some extra emotion.”
Having said that, Gallinari is still keeping his options open and clarified that his retirement at least at the moment, has to do only with national team duties.