Italy wanted me badly when I played in the Primavera league with AC Milan having arrived Italy as a very young boy.

But I have always maintained that I would wear the national colours of my country because I know what it takes to serve one’s country.

Besides, I have huge respect for the national anthem which has a line that say ‘to serve with heart and might’ and because of my large heart in the pitch, I always knew it would come to pass some day.

You came close to wearing your national team colours under Coach Samson Siasia at 2009 U-20 World Cup in Egypt but missed the chance...

I was very disappointed, especially as I felt I had it in my hands at the U-20 World Cup. But that didn’t happen despite the fact that I was one of the best players in the build-up games in Spain.

But one thing I will not forget was the fact that Siasia noticed the talent in me and after watching some of my games for the AC Milan youth team, he predicted that I would be a great player in future if I continued playing well. I have put the disappointment behind and look into the U-23 future.

How sure are you to get into Coach Austin Eguavoen’s team as he prepares for the Olympics qualifying tournament coming up next month?

Yes, sure, because I think I’m one of the most consistent young players at the moment as the records show. I want to bring my experience of playing in one of the toughest leagues in the world to bear for my fatherland.

I also play in the longest league format in the league–Italian Serie B that plays a total of 42 league games. I played in all the 42 games last season for Varese and played about 54 games in total, that is when you put the play-off games and Coppa Italia games together.

Besides, I’m voted one of the best midfielders in Italy and was nicknamed by the Italian press Il Nuovo Gattuso (the new Gattuso) and the Italian journalists also call me Gatuji–coining the name out of the Gattuso and my name Osuji.

So how far do you think your experience of playing in the Italian League can take you into the Nigeria’s U-23 team?

It will be only good for the team because the Italian league is one of the best in the world and arguably the toughest in the world. I play with some of the best players in the world and I play regularly as well.

I have also been grounded in Italian football at an early age having arrived as a kid from Nigeria.

I played almost all the games for the AC Milan Primavera team in the Primavera League for the years I spent there.

I was also involved in the European youth Champions League which put together the youth teams of top clubs like Manchester United, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and the rest. We got to the semi-finals.

The U-23 midfield is almost filled to the brim by some of the best in the land. What more quality will you bring on?

I will bring an extra engine to the game to always keep the midfield moving all the time.

I respect the midfielders because talents abound in Nigeria. I’m a different kind of midfielder who is always willing to do extra five metres for my colleagues. This is very rare to have among the players.

So, I think that’s a very huge plus on my side.

If you were to meet Eguavoen now, what will you tell him?

I think I will be struck with emotions first because of his performance for the national team during his heyday. I wasn’t even born when he was at his prime but I read about him so much and saw some of his games for Eagles on video.

I don’t need to tell him anything but would always want my game to speak for me. He will have to watch me in action and do his assessment.

Padova are second on the Serie B table. What are your prospects for wining promotion to Serie A?

We have started very well and I’m happy with our performance so far. The season is still very young; we still got a whole lot of games to play. It’s still early to say we will win promotion. So, let’s see how it goes.

You arrived Italy at a very young age, grabbing all the headlines soon after.Tell us more about your Italian romance.

I was adopted by Italian parents at an early age and I speak very good Italian because I did six years in Secondary school while I also played for the AC Mil a n youth team.

I read and write good Italian and I have also been selected most of the times by my clubs as a motivational speaker at schools in Italy where I delivered papers on racism.

You’re still under contract with AC Milan, only joined Padova on loan this summer. When will your fans expect your big break?

It’s a huge privilege and honour to be associated with a very big club like Milan and I’m delighted to be here. I joined Padova on loan last summer after spending two seasons on loan at Varese.

It was a great learning curve for me at Varese where I played almost all the games and was almost getting promotion ticket to Seria A.

I had a great time with the Primavera team at Milan and was supposed to be promoted to the senior team but had to go on loan to get more experience and playing time. I have done well for myself and I think I can now compete with the rest of my mates at Milan.