Empoli midfielder Mirko Valdifiori is thrilled with his first Italy call-up.

The 28-year-old has been called up by Azzurri coach Antonio Conte in the absence of Juventus veteran Andrea Pirlo.

Valdifiori said: "I feel great pride and satisfaction, and I thank those who gave me the opportunity, as well as Empoli because they allowed me to express myself to the maximum on the field.

"This call-up is very important. My role model is Pirlo, the number one for the last 10 or 15 years. Training with such great players I can only learn I have to improve defensively and understand the system of the Coach.

"Conte wants to give us a clear identity, we try to do what he asks of us on the pitch.

"I don't feel fatigued because of his sessions, there's a lot of enthusiasm and things are normal, there are also a lot of tactics and we welcome these sessions."