Roma ace Nicolo Zaniolo admits he had to be talked into pursuing a football career by his father.
Zaniolo is regarded among Europe's brightest young stars, but he says he struggled as a junior player.
He said, “I've never been considered someone who was destined to make it, especially in the youth sector. I was always quite small physically and developed later than the other boys, so when Fiorentina told me that I couldn't stay there anymore, I retained my enthusiasm for football.
“I went to Virtus Entella and found more space, along with people who believed in me. I remember sitting at a café with my Dad and crying, telling him that if I couldn't get playing time there, I really would have to change sport or at least try to find a different profession.
“I thought maybe I just didn't have it. My father (ex-Genoa striker Igor Zaniolo, ndr) told me to give everything to the very last week, so I'd have no regrets. I did it and from then on, I never stopped playing."