AC Milan wing-back Ignazio Abate wants to prove himself with Italy.

Abate received his first call-up under Cesare Prandelli at the weekend for the international friendlies with Poland and Uruguay.

"I do not feel like a stopgap, I see this call as an opportunity for myself. It will be up to me to prove that I deserve in future to be in the new squad.

"Galliani has always believed in my qualities, I do not feel I am in the centre of a dispute between the club and the national team.

"They are very serene, Galliani has made statements about me, but it remains up to me to merit the position with the Azzurri."