Siena coach Andrea Mandorlini is delighted to see his former Atalanta protege Riccardo Montolivo break into the Italy squad.

He told Radio Calciomercato: "I am proud to have trained him. We always knew his qualities, he had only to play for a much stronger team, and for other purposes grow as a man. He has been growing, I feel very sure.

"He's starting to become a specialist in his role . I think he is really a midfielder. He is proving a really important player."