The Roma veteran claims he would refuse to join
another Italian side, while bemoaning the current state of football in
the country
The Giallorossi and Italy veteran has been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea in 2013 and, though he did not express his desire to leave the Stadio Olimpico, he admitted that a foreign move in the future is feasible.
"Had I left Roma in the past or if I leave in the future then I would go for an experience abroad," De Rossi, 30, told
reporters on Wednesday.
"I feel like an integral part of Roma and Roma are an integral part of my life, but if I was to go then I would not play for another Italian side out of respect to the club. I would move to a foreign outfit."
De Rossi also condemned Serie A for being behind La Liga, the Premier League and the Bundesliga and suggested that changes are needed to prevent Ligue 1 from overtaking Italy in terms of quality and appeal.
"The culture of Italian football is about 10-20 years behind the times," he added. "The way we think and live it is all wrong. We are behind English football, Spanish and German. We’ll soon be behind the French championship too.
"For a start, look at our stadiums and our kick-off times. We play in January at 21:00CET at night in Udine. It wouldn’t take a lot to improve, like Serie B who play at Christmas and then have January off.
"I’m not saying this with venom or anger because if our football is behind then it is also because of me seeing as I am a part of it."
De Rossi has 90 caps for the Azzurri, scoring 15 times, and has represented them at four major tournaments.
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