Edin Dzeko talks about Fenerbahçe days: I would do it again...

Arriving on a free transfer after his contract with Fenerbahçe expired, Edin Džeko has chosen to embark on a new chapter with Fiorentina as he approaches his fortieth birthday. Despite his age, the former Inter and Roma forward continues to display sparkling physical form and presented himself to the media this morning at Viola Park. "I've never been close to Fiorentina before now," Džeko stated. "What do I expect? I'm the one who needs to give something with my experience and quality. This is a great club. I will give my utmost to help Fiorentina grow."

Pioli's demands and a desired return

Džeko spoke about adapting to his new coach, Stefano Pioli. "We're working hard and getting to know each other. Some players are new, and in recent days we've done some tests to understand our physical condition. The coach wants us to be aggressive and always have an offensive mindset."

He elaborated on his decision to join the Tuscan club: "When my agent told me about Florence, I said I'd accept immediately. From then on, for me, there was only Fiorentina. I wanted to come back to Italy and to a big club like this. Florence is also a beautiful city; I'll have time to discover it. I make choices with my wife and my family, and our children are our future. I am delighted."

When asked about his objectives, Džeko maintained his characteristic ambition. "We need to prepare in the best way. That's what I'll try to do because it's the foundation. I've never set limits for myself. The team comes first. Goals are my job, of course, but we must have common ambitions."

He also addressed the prospect of playing alongside new teammates Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson. "They are great footballers. Moise has shown everyone what kind of player he is. Gudmundsson did well in Italy and can do even better. Great footballers can and must play together. However, the team comes first. We think about the collective first, then ourselves. But we can play together."

Džeko further emphasized the importance of a strong team mentality: "A team must have a mix of young and 'old' players. Those of us with more experience must help the youngsters who want to do better. I've seen that the lads are all good people who want to work. Pioli has made a good impression on everyone. We will try to do our best. As the coach says, we must work better than others."

Fenerbahçe days: 'We could have done more...'

Džeko offered a thoughtful reflection on his recent spell in Turkey with Fenerbahçe. "It was a beautiful experience. We could have done more; when you don't win, some regret remains. However, I would do it again. For me and my family, it was a different experience. We were good there, it's just a shame we didn't win." He also touched on the Conference League, noting Fenerbahçe's defeat to Olympiacos, and Fiorentina's recent history in the competition: "Fiorentina has always reached the final, they lost them, but getting there is important. Great things can be done, and you can also learn from lost finals. I care a lot about it."

No controversy: Looking ahead to Fiorentina's future

Finally, Džeko addressed his departure from Inter. "I didn't cause any controversy. I'm not someone who creates unnecessary controversies. I don't like to look back. I had two beautiful years, and I can't wait to play at San Siro again. I know that the lads and the fans remained positive towards me. That's what remains. Now I want to do my best at Fiorentina. The Conference League is an objective, and we will try to go as far as possible." He remains optimistic about Fiorentina's potential to become a top club again, drawing parallels to his youth when "Bati" (Gabriel Batistuta) made Fiorentina a dominant force.