Post by Taxigirl on Nov 12, 2003 10:00:36 GMT
Gianluca Zambrotta is delighted to have been short-listed for the Golden Ball but concedes he won’t get a vote.
The Juventus star is one of the 50 nominations for the European Footballer of the Year prize but he doesn’t expect to win much backing from the jury.
"I won’t get a vote but I’m not too bothered about that," he maintained. "Just to be part of that group of 50 players is a great honour."
The former Bari star has had an excellent 2003 after he was transformed from a right-sided midfielder to an attacking left-back for club and country.
However, the player has admitted that he was rather shocked to hear the news of his inclusion.
"I was having dinner with Marco Di Vaio when I was told and I had to ask Marco whether I had heard correctly," he added.
"I am certainly surprised by it and it is a very strange feeling to have been included in the list."