Some of your team-mates made some comments on social media following the sale of Antonio Rudiger. As one of the few starters in Pinzolo right now, do you feel worried or do you have faith in Roma?



“First of all we all know what Radja [Nainggolan] is like. He loves making jokes and that’s what he’s done. You can’t take it at face value – that’s the kind of joke we make between ourselves. Maybe he made a mistake by doing it in public, but it’s still just a joke. As I’ve said, I know Monchi well and I’m well aware of what he’s capable of. He’s new here – he’s only just arrived and he doesn’t speak the language yet, so he needs time.

"There’s still a long way to go until the end of the transfer window and I know that he’ll build a great team. We’re in the Champions League this year, which is the most important competition in the world so we need to have a strong squad. That’s what he’s going to create. We’re calm because we already have a good team and he’s added players like [Rick] Karsdorp and [Maxime] Gonalons. I’m sure that Monchi will have a good transfer window.”



You’ve said that the goal you scored against Genoa was the most important of your career. Have you realised just how big a bearing that goal has had on the future of Roma?



“I know just what it means to score a goal that secures Champions League qualification because the same thing happened to me at Sevilla. It was really similar – I scored in the 90th minute for us to finish third. I’m well aware of what it means for the club, and not just in terms of money. The Champions League is really important because playing against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid is a whole different ball game.

"We had a good year last season but we could have achieved more, like winning the Coppa Italia and getting to the final of the Europa League. We ended up risking losing out on second place, despite beating AC Milan and Juventus at the end of the season. That said, at the end of the day it was a very positive season.”



Monchi has said that you were his toughest signing. Is that true?



“I think he was joking because he signed me from a small fee from a team in the Argentine third tier. I joined the Sevilla youth team and then moved up to the senior squad after 18 months. I don’t think there was anything memorable about my move!”



What do you need to do to bridge the gap with Juventus?



“We’re getting there gradually. We were ten or 15 points behind in my first year, but last season the game was only four points. Juventus show their class against the teams in the middle of the table – they don’t throw away points when the pitch is poor or teams just sit back. Those are the points we need to pick up. Four points doesn’t seem like a lot, but it makes all the difference.”



Is it tough to be competing with Stephan El Shaarawy?



“Stephan and I have a good relationship even though we play in the same position. He had a great end to the season and the competition is positive for both of us because it means you can never rest on your laurels. You know you have a player breathing down your neck who could take your place at any time, so I think it’s good for us and good for the team.”



You seemed disappointed not to get an Argentine call-up in March. Are you thinking about next year’s World Cup?



“It’s tough when you’ve not been called up for nearly six years, but the hope returns whenever there is a change of coach. It was hard because the old coach called me and told me I’d be in his next squad, but then he didn’t pick me so that was a blow. I want to have a good season here and give myself a chance of going to the World Cup, but I don’t have the same level of hope I had two or three years ago.”