Gianmarco Pozzecco admits being axed from the Italy's European Championship squad has come as one of the biggest disappointments of his career, but he is not bitter towards coach Carlo Recalcati.

Recalcati, who said he lost sleep while making the decision to cut Pozzecco, left the player out of his travelling party for technical reasons.

"He has unique qualities but I did not feel that these were in line with what we are trying to create here,"said Recalcati.

"Pozzecco must be given the chance to enjoy himself on the court and to display his qualities, otherwise there is no point him being in the team.”

Pozzecco, who played in Italy's qualifying campaign, has left the national set-up and is vacationing in Tenerife.

"In a professional life, you meet so many people but few leave an impact," Pozzecco told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. "Carlo Recalcati was at the top of this list.

"We have grown professionally together. We have won together in Varese. He has made me become a better player.

"A respect still remains, even though it has cooled off, but I will always be grateful.

"I won't forget quickly what we have had. I have understood that his decision was a technical one. I am certain that we will become friends again.

"We will only need a bit of time.

"I know I am an individual player and it's not easy to integrate me into a group, especially during a short space of time. You have to get used to playing with me, but you need time."