New United signing Alessio Bugno (AB) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) on Wednesday morning, left-back Bugno first talking about putting pen to paper for the Blues :
AB
I am very happy, after one month of hard work it is real, I have a contract and it is the first step for me. I am very happy to stay here in this great team.
PN
How did you first find out you had actually got a contract with the club?
AB
Greg (Abbott) spoke to me and he asked if I wanted to stay here in England and I was happy and of course I said yes. So, it is a great time for me, when I finished the training I went to the phone and said that I had got it.
PN
And I know your father will be especially happy you have got yourself a contract over here?
AB
Yeah, he was very happy, he will come here to see some matches and improve his English.
PN
And your father of course is a great cyclist, came second in the Tour de France many years ago?
AB
Yeah, yeah, he has done great things, I am very happy with this.
PN
Did you ever have an ambition to follow in your father's footsteps and become a professional cyclist?
AB
Until 12 years old I did both cycling and football, but after that I did what makes me happy, so football.
PN
You made the right choice?
AB
Yeah, because I am happy, so if one person is happy it comes.
PN
Tell me a bit about when you first started playing football and where that subsequently took you in the Italian game?
AB
I have been 11 years in the same team, after I moved in some teams I went professional at Pro Sesto, after that I went to Renate, after that Monza for two years and then I came here.
PN
And when you were playing for Monza what is the equivalent level of football over here?
AB
It was like League One here, League One, and I spent a good time there because I was a young player, I made good friends and had a lot of things very well, but now I start a new page of my life. I am very happy to be here.
PN
How would you compare the level of technical ability from what you are used to over in Italy to what you have seen so far over here in England?
AB
It is more fast in the English football, even the passages, the movement, are more quickly. In Italy there is more tactics but I like very much this kind of play.
PN
Have you always played as a defender?
AB
Yeah, I played left-back but I can also play left forward on the left side of the pitch.
PN
Did you always have an ambition to come over here and try your luck in England or were there opportunities perhaps to have moved to another club in Italy?
AB
I think that right now English football is the best country to play football. When I lived in Italy they mentioned it on the television and I always looked at English football because I like it very much. They told me that I needed to trial here, I started to watch the website and the news and I when I came here there was something I knew about them.
PN
We can't ignore the rain, everybody can hear it right now, I guess the English weather doesn't concern you at all?
AB
It is very different from Italy, right now in Italy it will be 30 degrees with sunshine and here it is raining a lot, but I am happy to be here and the weather conditions aren't important to me. We have great players, in attack we have Lee Miller, in midfield we have Bez (James Berrett), Chants (Chris Chantler), Nobs (Liam Noble), in defence everybody is a great player.
PN
And the manager?
AB
He is a good person, the first thing that I know before the manager is I see the person, he is a good person.
PN
What is your ambition in England? You have got two years with Carlisle, after that where do you see yourself?
AB
I think that after these two years I hope to stay here in England and do my future here.
PN
Now you need to look for somewhere to live I guess?
AB
Yeah, Thursday we are finding a flat for me so my girlfriend and my parents can come and be with me when they want.
PN
And you already appear to be quite a favourite amongst the Carlisle United supporters, how does that feel?
AB
Yeah, I need to thank them all because they gave me a hand to prove me here and in me sitting here, I listen to their support and for me it is a good thing.
PN
And this I guess is an exciting new chapter of your life, not just on the pitch but off it as well?
AB
Yeah, it is an experience to learn the English, a different country, but I am here to play football and help the team.