Santiago De Sagastizabal: "I'm ready to give everything to lead Real Forio to the top."

Real Forio has a new attacking powerhouse: Santiago De Sagastizabal. Born in 1997, the 192-centimeter-tall Argentine striker, weighing 78 kilograms, arrives on the island after a season of undeniable prominence with ASD Heraclea, a club with which he won Group B of the Eccellenza league and scored 19 goals between the first and second halves of the season, also playing for Manduria and Barletta.

His career in Italy saw him play in Serie D with Cenai, Aglianese, and Salsomaggiore, while in Eccellenza he played for clubs such as Pavia, Anconitana, Felino, and Terni. He also has international experience: two Serie B championships, one in his homeland with Brown and one in South Korea with Ansan Greeners. Now, in the shadow of Torrione, he's ready to write a new chapter.

Santiago, let's start with a question: how do you pronounce your last name correctly? "It's true, in Italy there's often some confusion. The correct pronunciation is De Sagastizábal, with the accent on the "a" of the penultimate syllable. Nothing complicated, you just need to get a little familiar with it."

How were your first days in Forio? What were your impressions of the team and the atmosphere? "Very positive. The group is largely made up of players who have known each other since last year, and it shows. The new additions, myself included, have been welcomed very well. The understanding is growing day by day and there's a calm atmosphere, thanks to both the coaching staff and the club. With highly experienced teammates like Pippo Florio and Peppe Mattera, it's easier to understand each other on the pitch."

Training in Forio means living in a picture-perfect place, but in the midst of summer training, there's little time for vacation... "That's exactly right. In the summer, the island is a beautiful tourist destination, but for us, it's a busy time. When I'm not on the pitch, I'm in the gym or resting, because the sessions are demanding. But the beauty of this place can be felt every day."

What goals do you have for this season? "I want to give my all to help the team achieve its goals. I know I'm joining an ambitious club that wants to improve on its past results. My contribution will be primarily in terms of goals, but also in working hard for the team."

Group A of the Campania Eccellenza league is considered one of the toughest. What do you expect? "I've never played it, but I've been told it's very competitive and that every match is a battle. That doesn't scare me; on the contrary, I'm ready to put myself to the test. It'll be tough, but we'll be ready."

With the charisma of a goalscorer and the determination of someone who wants to make his mark, Santiago De Sagastizabal arrives at Real Forio ready to turn every ball into an opportunity. The island welcomes him with its alluring beauty, and he responds with a hunger for victory: the perfect combination for a season as a star player.

Santiago, testimonial for VT-HOME25. The strength of the wind and the ardour of Turkish passion . It's here. It's ours. It's Real. The new Real Forio 2014 Home jersey, "Vento Turko," is a tribute to the wind that blows strongly over Forio and to the passion that drives us on the pitch. Green and white stripes, island heart, eternal pride. The elegant "VT-Home 2025" jersey, which will be worn at the home games of coach Carlo Sanchez's team, upgrades the "T-HOME 24" with an innovative design in which the club colors, white and green, blend perfectly. Forio tradition is now also evoked by the presence of the Turk who joins the Torrione. The "VT-Home 25" was created by Royal Sport Italia, a leading company in sportswear and in the sector of awards, badges, embroidered emblems, military heraldry, and objects.