The Italian star who credits Novak Djokovic with saving his football career

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Martin Macdonald | Author

Once a reported transfer target for Manchester City and Barcelona, Stefano Sensi is currently playing for Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis Famagusta as he looks to rebuild his career.

A talented midfielder on his day, Sensi started his professional career with Cesena before moving to Sassulo and then Inter Milan, where he helped the Nerazzurri to the Scudetto in 2021 and 2024.

He made a tremendous initial impact with Inter, scoring three goals and providing four assists in his opening six games under Antonio Conte but unfortunately for the Italian, his career at San Siro would be blighted by a host of injury issues which went on for 18 months.

"We played against Juve, I hurt my adductor. It looked like an injury like the others, in fact it was," he said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But immediately after I had another problem, then another and another. A surreal situation, continued for a year and a half. That's how bad thoughts take over.”

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Sensi says he considered retiring due to his ongoing injury issues, but his wife convinced him to keep going.

"Yes, but my wife convinced me to go ahead and not to throw in the towel," he revealed.

"If I went back, I would have immediately looked for a mental coach: three years ago I found one and today I can't do without it. Think about it: you get hurt several times, you go back to training and you are always afraid of a new injury.

"Or the opposite happens, you push too hard because you want to get back to the top and maybe you'll fix a rip. You need the right balance. Mental coaches are important, but footballers have to get used to trusting them."

After periods at Sampdora and Monza on loan, and then Monca on a permanent basis, Sensi moved to Anorthosis Famagusta in 2025 in order to pursue guaranteed first-team football with each week, and he has flourished in his new surroundings, with eight goals and six assists in 23 appearances this season.

Key to his career revitalisation was following the strict diet of tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, famed for his fitness and conditioning.

"I was talking about my situation with some friends and I heard 'The Winning Point', the book in which Djokovic explains how much he suffered and how he managed to solve his physical problems," Sensi explained.

"I bought it and, reading it, I saw myself in it and I started to imitate it. I only ate gluten-free and lactose-free foods, I avoided sugars. In a short time I felt fit and, in fact, injuries have become much less frequent".

One of Sensi's biggest moments on a grand stage was when he was one of the best performers on the pitch as Inter faced Barcelona at Camp Nou in a Champions League clash. He received huge praise for his performance from the Spanish media and found himself in the vicinity of two of his heroes, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

"The first month was incredible, but right then I didn't understand what was happening," the Italian said.

"You go to the field, play, play with your friends, come home and dedicate yourself to your family: time flies. If I think back to how I played in the Champions League against Barcelona, however, I get chills. I grew up watching Xavi and Iniesta, I gave a show at their Camp Nou. It was the best moment of my career.”

Man City and Barcelona were reportedly interested in signing him not long after the display in Catalunya, and in his opinion, his career would have taken him to such heights if it weren't for injuries.

"Yes, definitely," he replied, when asked if he could have played for those two clubs.

"If some teams follow you it's because they saw something important in you. Then what happened happened and it's okay, I can't do anything about it".

It does seem like Sensi has finally found a home in Cyprus, living in the quiet village of Larnaca which he says suits his lowkey lifestyle perfectly.

Should he continue to impress, he could find himself the target of bigger European clubs again.

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