Now 32, Davide Petrucci is still going strong. With a club cv which includes Manchester United, AS Roma and CFR Cluj, football has taken the Italian across Europe - and back.

Petrucci is now playing in Serie C with Brindisi, having landed a contract last year after securing a release from Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Before then, Davide spent three years in Turkey with Çaykur Rizespor and two years in Romania with giants, CFR Cluj.

But his pro career began in his home city and home club, AS Roma. Davide came right through the youth system of the Giallorossi before being convinced to leave as a 16 year-old for England and Manchester United in 2008. He would spend six years on the books at United before accepting that offer from Cluj.

Now back home, Petrucci spoke with Tribalfootball.com about his multi-nation career, the stars he played with and also his thoughts on the present day Manchester United and Roma.

First Roma, then United... it's football royalty isn't?

"For me, it was like a dream those first couple of years. I started playing for Roma, which is THE club in my city and I dreamt about that. Then I went to Manchester, which was a huge step for me and my career. I am honoured to have had the chance to play for these two big teams."

You mixed with some football greats at United...

"When I went to Manchester United I had the honour to train with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney, Ferdinand, Giggs but the player who impressed me the most was Paul Scholes. His qualities were out of this world!

"Also, I had the chance to live with but also to play with Pogba, who is still a great player!"

After United, it was Romania. What was that experience like? You did win the Cup there...

"Well, I still follow very closely Cluj because I am very connected with that club and with the fans there. Cluj in Romania is one of their biggest clubs and I am very happy about the results and the progress that the club has made during these recent years.

"I hope that Adrian Mutu can help the club to turn the situation there and that in the end, they can win the title."

You also played in Belgium, Israel and Turkey...

“Yes, it is true I have played in different countries and in different teams. For me, it doesn't exist as a good experience or a bad experience, for me every experience has left me something positive and something negative.

"From all of them, I have taken the positive things, and this way I have helped myself to become better, and for this reason, I can't nominate a best or worst experience for me."

Let's return home and Roma - what have you made of this season?

“I follow Roma very closely because it is the club of my heart. To be honest, in the last period, I wasn't enjoying watching Roma playing in the way they were playing, despite Mourinho being a great coach and doing well as our coach.

"De Rossi brings new ideas and a new spirit into the team, and from what I have heard he is also a very good coach. I know him personally and he has a great character, is very smart, and understands a lot regarding football."

What about the Serie A season overall?

"For me, the strongest team is Inter, a surprise for me has been Bologna. They are playing very well with very good and talented young players and a coach with a great future in front of him.

"I was expecting more from Roma because they have a good team and also from Napoli based on the players they have I was expecting them to be higher and not in that position they are in now."

Talking of strugglers, we must ask you about United this season...

"When I was there I can say that I had the luck to be part of the best period of Manchester United in their history under the leadership of Ferguson, who controlled everything there.

"I think after his retirement, United lost the person who controlled everything. But not only that, they also lost those great players with great personalities who could handle the pressure of being a Manchester United player.

"I think the players that came after weren't ready to play for a club like United. I hope things can change quickly for them because United is one of the most important clubs in the world."

Finally, what are your hopes for the Azzurri in Germany this summer?

"Luciano Spalletti is a great coach who tries always to implement his clear philosophy in every team he trains. Despite all the problems, I think Italy remains an important team with good players and will be very hard to beat for every opponent in the Euros.

"We have this quality as a country that we combine great illusion with great victories, and I think we will play an important role in the Euros this year."