Alessandro Diamanti

Diamanti joined A-League newcomers Western United on a one-year marquee deal in July and the 37-year-old was a class above prior to the season being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The former West Ham, Bologna and Atalanta attacker – who arrived from Serie B side Livorno – scored five goals and supplied seven assists in 19 appearances in 2019-20.

Despite Diamanti's exploits for Western United, the veteran's future remains uncertain with his contract expiring.

But back in love with football thanks to Australia, Diamanti told Stats Perform: "Virus or no virus, I would have kept playing anyway. For sure I will still be playing football as long as I feel physically and psychologically like this, being able to offer great performances and loving to train everyday.

"Then to be honest, to come here gave me back that lightness and that passion you always tend to lose in Europe. I will stay here in Australia next season."

Diamanti added: "Football is the same everywhere. Then of course there are different cultural ways to let football grow and this may change from country to country.

"According to me here football is at a good level. There are interesting players and many talented youngsters who have improvement margins ahead. There are foreigners who have played abroad at high levels. Here it is physical, a lot, and very competitive. At the same time it is very cheerful, something the rest of the world [of football] should be too."

Diamanti was handed the armband at the A-League's newest club, a rare opportunity to lead a team from their inauguration.

"Maybe I accepted Australia for this idea," Diamanti said. "At the beginning of the season I met the owners of my club and they told me they wanted to start off this new club adventure with me at the heart of the project.

"They made me captain and asked me to help this club to improve. They gave me responsibilities and I have always got along well with responsibilities. I liked it a lot to be winning as a captain the first game of a newborn club. It is nice."

Western United – coached by Mark Rudan – were sixth after their 20 matches when the league was halted due to COVID-19.

The club occupied the remaining finals position on goal difference, ahead of Adelaide United.

"We started the season very well than, as it may happen, we had a slump in form due to injuries and some players who left," said Diamanti.

"We struggled a bit in the central part of the season but in the last two or three games we were back to our standard levels and we were aiming at the playoff to have our say.️"

In the second upset of the post-season, following Perth Glory's elimination match victory over Wellington Phoenix, Diamanti struck on Sunday to set up a last-four meeting with Melbourne City.

United, who finished fifth in the regular season, led after 21 minutes when the former Italy international swept in a sensational 25-yard effort, with Jamie Young only able to help the ball into the top-left corner.

Brisbane could have equalised before half-time but Matthew Ridenton sent his left-footed volley just wide.

Young kept his side in the gane with a brave double-save from Josh Risdon and 37-year-old Diamanti, before the Roar came again.

Jay O'Shea shot wastefully straight at Filip Kurto and then Brad Inman drove forward and blasted against the post, but United held on for a historic win.

Chiesa is a player in demand following his exploits for Fiorentina. Juventus and Inter are reportedly interested, as well as Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea.

The 22-year-old Italy international, who emerged from Fiorentina's youth system in 2016, had managed six goals and three assists in 23 Serie A appearances prior to the coronavirus pandemic halting the season.

Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso has already said he is open to selling Chiesa if the forward wants to leave the Viola, yet Diamanti has some advice for his countryman.

Ex-Italy international Diamanti, who played for Fiorentina across two loan spells and is now captain of A-League side Western United in Australia, told Stats Perform: "If I were Chiesa I would think twice before leaving Fiorentina.

"Commisso came with a lot of enthusiasm and plan and if I were Federico Chiesa I would think twice before leaving this Fiorentina with a new ownership."

American billionaire Commisso completed his takeover prior to the 2019-20 season, buying Fiorentina from the Della Valle family, having failed to land a controlling stake in Serie A rivals Milan.

Commisso's arrival led to the signing of high-profile free agent and former Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery but it has been a topsy-turvy campaign in Florence.

Fiorentina sacked head coach Vincenzo Montella in December and the team were 13th, five points above the relegation zone before the season was suspended.

"It is always hard [at the beginning]," Diamanti, who has also played for West Ham, Atalanta, Watford, Bologna and Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande, said. "You risk to make a bit of confusion.

"He [Commisso] invested a lot, brought in many players. They had some problems despite the good start and were forced to sack the manager.

"So far this first season has been tough although the league isn't over yet. It has been tough, but you can see they laid the foundations for the future."