Sorrentino settling well in Athens

Impressive breakthrough
But then, the 26-year-old has been waiting to make the breakthrough for some time. Having passed through S.S. Lazio and Juventus FC's ranks, he switched to Torino, but really only began to play regular first-team football on loan at Serie C1 side Varese Calcio in 2000/01, conceding less than a goal a game for the mid-table team.

AEK move
Back at Torino, he made his Serie A debut the next season, but only became a regular after relegation in 2003. Last term he truly made his name as he helped Torino to second place with the fewest goals against in Serie B. However, he opted for a move to AEK to "take his career a step further", a switch which guaranteed him top-flight football as Torino's promotion was later cancelled for financial reasons.

'Feeling good'
Nearly four months after his transfer, Sorrentino is settling well in his new home, with his reward coming last Friday with a contract extension until June 2010. "I am feeling very good here in Greece and Athens," he told uefa.com. "I am lucky because I have with me my wife and my baby girl - and these two are my life."

Praise for fans
He arrived at an AEK side whose support was galvanised a year ago by their brush with bankruptcy and rescue led by ex-player Demis Nikolaidis. Sorrentino certainly appreciates the backing the team gets. "The atmosphere is super!" he said. "The fans - our fans - are splendid." In return, the supporters have taken to their new goalkeeper, chanting his name throughout their recent 3-0 win against Panathinaikos FC and flocking to buy his replica shirts.

Contrasting cultures
As for his first impressions of the football itself in Greece, he mused: "It's a difficult championship but it is also very exciting." However, Sorrentino added: "I think that the Italian 'tactical school' is much better than Greek one. Italian players are better and there are more quality players, especially in attack."

Cirillo support
The goalkeeper added that he himself is helped by the presence in his defence of Bruno Cirillo, who joined AEK from AC Siena a week after Sorrentino's own switch. "He helps me very much, we speak the same language, he is one of the best stoppers in Italy and he has a very good CV," said Sorrentino.

Season ambitions
One of the few goals Sorrentino has conceded this season was a costly one - FC Zenit St. Peterburg's last-gasp winner in the UEFA Cup first round. However, with AEK riding high in the Greek league, the goalkeeper is not shy of revealing his ambitions for the rest of his debut Athens season.

'Here to win'
"My aims are firstly to win the championship, if not then to get the second position for [UEFA] Champions League [qualification] and to win the Greek Cup," Sorrentino said. "You know, I am not here for tourism or a vacation. I am here to win."