Pescara striker Gianluca Lapadula says he is “proud to be of interest to Juventus,” and recounts his time as a ball boy at the Delle Alpi stadium.

The 26-year-old forward is enjoying a strong season at Pescara, scoring 15 goals and creating eight, attracting the attention of the Bianconeri.

“I am proud to be of interest to Juventus over the last few months, just as I am proud of what I am doing at this stage of my career,” he told Panorama.

“As for my future, I’d love to face the Old Lady next year with my Pescara. That would be the ultimate for me.

“I was a promising young player and on a Sunday I’d be a ball boy so I could see Zinedine Zidane or Alessandro Del Piero up close.

“At Juventus they told me I had to study, but I didn’t want to know. The club considered education a very important component in the growth of an athlete in the youth academy, almost as much as knowing how to play football.

“I stopped at a low level and over time I understood what that meant.”