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

When I lose my temper it's because I decide to. If I do something it's because I want to do it.

I don't like journalists and I hardly ever talk to them.

I don't follow politics; it doesn't interest me. So why should I vote?

Many stories are invented about me - too many stories; almost everyone uses me, and I'd say about 0.01 percent of the gossip is true.

I am proud to be Italian because I was born in Italy, I grew up in Italy, I went to school in Italy and I have worked in Italy. I'm Italian.

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.