Excerpt from 2007 TopDrawer Soccer interview with Gabriele Ferrari after he signed with Sampdoria in Serie A, I posted this a couple of years ago, and it still comes to mind:
TDS: You are sort of a classic example now for how good a player can come through the youth ranks and be missed by the system. Is the fact that you are making matchday lineups in Sampdoria kind of a vindication for you?
Gabriel Ferrari: I've spoken with my parents and family about how I was never really noticed here in America but when I went to Europe as soon as they laid their eyes on me they saw something. I don't know why that was. I remember when I was 13 trying out for the Eastern New York ODP team and I didn't make it. When I was 13 I was good, but I've gotten better as time has gone on so I guess that's part of it, but I really can't answer why I've never been part of a regional or national camp before. It's a pretty big mystery.
TDS: Were there some other opportunities with ODP after you were 13?
Gabriel Ferrari: I had made the team the year before and made it, but I didn't make the regional team. Then when I was 13 I tried out again for state team and didn't even make that. After that I kind of lost faith and hope in the ODP system to be quite frank. I didn't try out anymore. I had no interest. I had a lot of friends making regional and national teams and I just broke it off and kept playing for my club and school teams.
