The last 3 days there have been a lot of details for me. I did not fully realized what my move to Russia would mean not until a few hours ago. It all happened so quickly and it only took 2 days to make the decision.

The first thing that crossed my mind is the regret that this transfer is the result of a scary accident of Lukasz Zygadlo, to whom I wish “good luck” after our conversation. I realized that my transfer means that I will never get the chance to play in the Italian Championship.

I played in Italy for 19 years which I consider being the most beautiful and most difficult years of my career, although in the recent years a large number of champions have gone away. I owe everything to the Italian League because it has made ​​me what I am, both as a player and as a person. I have won many trophies but what’s even more beautiful is that I shared this joy with many players from the many teams I have played for which created bonds that go beyond our professional relationships. I have found true friends, from nations all over the world and this is something priceless to me.

I said before that I was lucky enough to win with different teams and it is difficult to compare one experience with another. Each team I played for, from the promotion of Catania in Serie A2, the victories with Trento and Cuneo, gave me different emotions, but always authentic. In Milan, unfortunately we did not win any trophy, but I met great people, who will remain my friends for life.

The first championship in Trento was the culmination of a dream that waited for a long time . “You never forget the first time” but to win it with Cuneo gave me completely different emotions, because I saw the joy of the people who were waiting for the trophy longer than me, and I was proud to be a part of it.

Cuneo is the city in which I played longer and where I won my first trophy for clubs in Italy and won 7 trophies total. We couldn’t win the eighth trophy last year in the Champions League Final 4 which would’ve been the first time in the history of Cuneo. We were so close…

At first I just wanted to come and play for at least a year in Italy and I would never have dreamed of being able to have a career so long and beautiful . So yesterday, when I started realizing that this adventure was about to end , I felt really bad.

Imagine, it is normal that sooner or later I have to finish my career & I thought Italy would be my last stop where my volleyball career began. Instead I am about to start a new one in Russia.

I do believe that the past and the future do not belong to us but only the present. This is the best thing about volleyball. You have to prove every day during every training how much you’re worth. It does not matter what you have done and what you have won because if you continue to play well you forget everything quickly.

Do not just settle for a win, no matter how important it is, but forget what it was and move on. So , I forget what I did , because I have to prove to be worth where they do not know me and where I have not won anything yet. Starting again at 40, not exactly from a zero , but almost , I find it a great motivation to get back into the play once again.

It seemed right to write this letter , after 19 wonderful years , to thank all the people that I have been close to and that have been part of my life, both professionally and personally. Once I am done playing , I think I will dedicate myself to coaching because I do not know what I’d do without volleyball .

Therefore , this is just “see you later!” and not a “goodbye!”.

A big hug to everyone!