US Sassuolo Calcio vs Udinese preview - Zaza keen to repay Sassuolo

Posted Friday, January 09, 2015 by PA

Simone Zaza is keen to repay Sassuolo for the faith shown in him after putting pen to paper on a one-year contract extension this week.

The Italy international, who will lead Sassuolo's attack against Udinese on Saturday at the Mapei stadium, voiced his delight after signing a new improved deal that will keep him at the Emilia-Romagna club until June 2019.

"My aim is to do well here and improve with Sassuolo," Zaza told the Italian press. "This is the ideal place for me to grow."

Zaza was strongly linked with a move to Juventus in January and Turin could be his likely destination in the near future.

Juve, who sold half of Zaza's sporting rights to Sassuolo last summer, hold an option to acquire the 23-year-old in June for 15million euros (B#11.7million).

"My aim is to play for a bigger club in the future but only when I'm ready," Zaza said. "My only focus right now is on helping Sassuolo defend its Serie A status."

Zaza scored nine goals to help minnows Sassuolo avoid relegation last season.

The Italian forward has already found the net six times in 12 league games so far, including the winner in Tuesday's 2-1 triumph at AC Milan.

The victory was Sassuolo's fifth of the campaign and lifted Eusebio Di Francesco's side to 10th place, 11 points clear of the drop zone.

Rivals Udinese head into the contest still fuming over a controversial refereeing decision in their 1-0 home defeat to Roma on Tuesday.

Davide Astori's ghost goal, a header from Francesco Totti's free-kick that bounced off the underside of the bar and back out, was the difference between the two sides.

The referee over-ruled the goal-line official claiming that the ball had crossed the line.

"The assistant referee behind the goal-line had not given the goal because he felt the ball had not gone over the line," Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni said. "I respect the referee but what is the point of having the assistant if his decision does not count!"

The loss extended Udinese's winless run to three games and dropped the Bianconeri to 12th place.b