Which book do you like to reread? The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity by Carlo Cipolla, an Italian historian who worked in the US. It’s very funny. He divides humanity into four types of people, each of whom are stupid in their own way. The point is to see things in perspective. As a student, I know a fair bit about law, but I know nothing compared to a lawyer who has been practising for years. It also taught me to look critically at other people’s theories and ideas.
I feel Italian when I… Always! I was five when we moved to Brussels, where my mother works for the European Commission, but I never really picked up the Belgian culture. We spoke Italian at home, and at school I was surrounded by Italians and other internationals. I always spent holidays with my father in Rome – my parents separated when my sister and I were still young. Maybe I’m most Italian when it comes to food. I can’t stand it when people don’t rate our cuisine as the best, or think it’s just about pizza and pasta. Each Italian region has its own dishes; there’s so much variety that I don’t even know them all.
My friends describe me as… hyperactive, and I kind of am. I like to cram my days full and enjoy being busy. They also say I tend to look for the positive in people. I’m always laughing; even if I’ve had a bad day, I’ve forgotten all about it the next morning. After all, what do I have to be sad about? My mother always told us, “There are children without homes or food, and they have a right to be sad, but you have everything.” She was right. I have my family, my friends, I can do what I want… I’m happy.
“I have my family, my friends, I can do what I want… I’m happy”
Studying law was always on the cards for me. Not really. My mother is an economist, and my father is an artist and architect. I studied economics for a year in Rotterdam. It was challenging, and I loved the city, but I couldn’t see myself working for an investment bank or accountancy firm. I enjoy reading and writing, I like solving conflicts and I wanted a programme that would broaden my horizons. Law does that. It suits me.
Losing hurts. I’m very competitive, especially when it comes to football. I’ve learnt to accept defeat, but it wasn’t always like that. Back when I still thought I’d go pro, I wouldn’t speak for the rest of the day if we lost. I played in Belgium at the second and third highest level, attracting interest from clubs at the highest level. But going pro is hard. You need luck – to be noticed, to have a coach believe in you, to play well at the right moment. And football is corrupt; at the time, I didn’t want to be part of that world. But I wouldn’t rule it out in the future if the right opportunity came along.
I currently play for Maastricht West. When I’m frustrated, like when exams don’t go well, football helps me feel balanced again. I can let go of all that negative energy on the pitch, meeting every challenge head-on. [Chuckles] Sometimes I’m shouting in Italian and people just look at me like: who is that guy?
If I had a time machine, I’d go back to… the 1990s. Life seems to have been more carefree back then, with no smartphones to distract us. I waste too much time on my phone as well. You need it for everything these days. It’s fine to use it for messaging and watching the occasional reel, but the real issue is how much time we spend on them. When I visit family, I leave my phone behind so I can actually be present with them.
“The more you mess around, the more you learn about yourself – that’s something I try to live by”
Love is complicated. Yes, it is. I’ve never been in a long-term relationship. I would like one, but I’m not going to plan it; it will happen when it happens. Dating apps? Hell no, never. I don’t want to judge a girl based on a photo – it feels so fake. You don’t make friends through a screen either, do you? For me, what matters is someone’s vibe and energy. You can’t get that from an app. I want to meet someone in real life, wake up one morning and realise I’m in love. To see her and think: wow!
The best advice I ever received… came from my grandmother. She always said: when one door closes, another window opens. Some things just have to happen. And Socrates’ saying that the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. What I take from that? Stay curious, listen to people, read, try to keep learning. “The more you mess around, the more you learn about yourself” – that’s something I try to live by.
In ten years… I hope I’ll have a good job, perhaps in football. Maybe as an agent or a scout. I might be able to make a difference in that world, make it a bit less corrupt. As for my personal life, I’ll be thirty years old. A relationship will have to come naturally. My mother always says, “Help yourself and God will help you.” To me, that means: always do your best and see what happens. In the end, good wins.