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Andrea Bargnani Looking Forward To Playing For Italy

By Vytis Lasaitis

Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks on from the bench against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Andrea Bargnani is currently tuning out of all the trade talks and focusing on recovering in time to play for the Italian national team at EuroBasket 2013. The Toronto Raptors forward/center is aware of the rumors but, according to Sportado, more than anything Bargnani is excited to play with his fellow countrymen:

"“I look forward to play for the Italian National Team. The roster is very good with quality players. I hope this year is the right one to have a good final result. Next NBA Season? In the NBA it is not the player who decides where to play. The only thing I can do is to work out and play hard. At the moment I am a player of the Toronto Raptors. I miss playoffs and I miss the atmosphere of the NBA playoffs.”"

Bargnani suffered an elbow injury this season and was limited to just 35 games. He has been part of a lot of trade rumors, and many expect the team’s new GM Masai Ujiri to shop the Italian shooter this summer.

This year the European championships will be held in Slovenia and will start on Sep 4. Italy’s toughest competition in the group stage will be Russia, Greece and Turkey.

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