Quotes from Andrea Pirlo

There were times we were kept in our dressing room until late at night because it wasn't safe to go home. Our bus would get attacked, the tires slit.

To be honest, I don't see anyone out there who plays the way I do.

Do I regret leaving Milan? I decided I needed a change. I needed to find new ideas, and that was the best thing for both parties.

When I take my free-kicks, I think in Portuguese, and at most, I'll do the celebrating in my native tongue.

Pogba has never stopped improving. He has everything to become a great player. If he keeps his head on his shoulders, he can make history.

You can be lucky for a few years, but in the end, your defects will emerge. The reality is different. People are watching you, and those who know how to play will progress, while those who don't will remain in the lower levels.

On the first training session Pogba had with Juventus, the players were laughing. We were not laughing for any other reason than we were just in total disbelief that this player with so much obvious ability was able to leave the club the size of Manchester United for free - and I think Juventus are still laughing.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that players care about transfer fees. For a player, they do not care at all. They do not care if they move clubs for one million, 10 million, or 100 million Euros. That is just something a player leaves to his agent and the clubs.

Until I was 30 years old, my body was used to my routine of eating pasta every single day.

I'm Italian, but I'm also a little Brazilian: Pirlonho, if you like.

Just being able to go out to dinner at the trendiest restaurants - in Italy, I can't do that.

When I do retire, I am going to go back to Italy.

Each free kick carries my name, and all are my children. And they have South American roots.

I've never told anyone, but my ambition is to become the leading all-time scorer of free kicks in Serie A.

I think that soccer is one thing, and money is another thing.

When there is a solid base of Italian players, those who come in take their example, and then everyone is working in the same direction.

I think if somebody knows how to play the game, he or she can play anywhere. You know how to fit in.

For many years, Messi and Ronaldo will be the two best. After them, there is Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and others. I hope to be in the top ten.

Messi is the best player in the world; he is amazing.

I've always been used to playing 60 games - one every three days - and I've played on artificial turf. There is artificial turf in Europe as well in some places. There is heat as well. And if it's hot for me at 110 degrees Fahrenheit, it's hot for the others as well.

The Ballon d'Or has never been something that I've missed.

I played with Baggio when I was young. I grew up with his myth, and to actually play with him was like being in a dream. I tried to hang out with him, to study how he played and to learn from him.

I have always said that it is fundamental to have a strong core of Italian players in a club squad. At AC Milan, we had that and we won. The same at Juventus.

All I'm after is a few square metres to be myself. A space where I can continue to profess my creed: take the ball, give it to a team-mate, my team-mate scores. It's called an assist, and it's my way of spreading happiness.