When I wasn't famous, I had a lot of friends, almost all of them Italian. The racism only started when I started to play football.

When I decide to score, I score. I know I am strong, but I believe it is not enough yet. I can kick fine, dribble very well, but I still have to improve.

My public image is absolutely not a fair reflection of who I am.

Occasionally, you feel like the only person able to win the match. So you take all the responsibility, you do too much, and you do something bad.

Even if I don't always behave as I should, this still doesn't explain why so many people have something against me. But you know how it is. A lot of people vent themselves by coming to the stadium to yell at me. I hope it's not racism. I tell myself that it's not racism; it's because I'm tough, and I repeat this to myself.

Mancini is lucky. He has an owner [Sheikh Mansour] who speaks little and asks only: "What do you need?"

I sent my Christmas wishes to him, but he didn't answer. He's the world's best coach, but as a man he still has to learn manners and respect.