[dukeofdavinci]

Santana moves on from Milan Thursday 7 February, 2008

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Fiorentina midfielder Mario Santana is looking to put his costly mistake against Milan behind him and is focusing on three points against Atalanta.

The Viola travel to Bergamo on Saturday night in need of three points to maintain their four-point lead over a resurgent Milan.

The Tuscans lost out in last weekend’s showdown after Santana gave the ball away in midfield and Alexandre Pato pounced to score the only goal of the game.

“It was an error,” the former Palermo man admitted. “I wanted to give the ball to Riccardo Montolivo because I thought he could do better with it.

“I certainly didn’t expect things to end up as they did – it would have been better if I had belted the ball away. Milan are a great team who can punish you for any mistake.

“But now we have to think about Bergamo. The season goes on and even the players that have been on international duty must be 100 per cent Fiorentina as soon as they return.

“Atalanta are a tough side to face and they beat Parma. We have to be very focused but we must win.”

Santana has become an Italian citizen this week, but cannot represent the Azzurri as he has already received seven caps for Argentina.

“I’m very happy to get a passport because I have been in Italy for years,” he grinned.

“I have no regrets that I can’t play for Italy because for an Argentine it is the best to play for your nation.”

The 26-year-old concluded with a cryptic suggestion that he may consider emigration at the end of the year.

“This documentation is also important as gives me the chance to go and play in England for example,” he said.

channel4.com - Football Italia