FABRIZIO Ravanelli, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialla, Roberto Di Matteo and Zola are household names.

But look further down the soccer ladder and the international legions are starting to cause a foreign affair in the Nationwide League.

The latest import locally is Italian defender Alfredo Bissani.

He is a genuine coup for Clarets manager Adrian Heath, who is increasingly scanning the continent for new talent.

While Burnley may be a world away from the lira-laden Premiership, the well-groomed Italian is clearly not here for the ride.

He is determined to win himself a contract at Turf Moor and says: "I just have a love affair English football.

"I love the passion about the game and the feeling that British people have for football.

"We see a lot on television in Italy and that has fired my ambition to play in England.

"In Italy the accent is very much on tactical defence while in the Premiership it is attack, attack, attack.

"You have great players like Alan Shearer and Ryan Giggs, while I particularly admire Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp. "Paul Ince, who I played against last year, is also a great player. He is highly thought of at Inter."

Added Alfredo: "I watched the Blackburn versus Nottingham Forest game on Monday and the pace of the game was sometimes breathtaking.

"But you wouldn't see that approach in Serie A. The build-up would be more delivered and slower. That is the way it is in Italy."

He's clearly no mug either, having played in 20 of Cremonese's games last season as they were relegated from Serie A.

His career began at Catanzaro before later spells with Corrarese, Verona, Como and finally Cremonese.

That gave Alfredo the opportunity to test his skills against some of the best footballers on the planet.

"I've always supported Inter Milan. I was born near to Milan at a place called Lodi, so it was always a great occasion to play in the San Siro," he added.

"I've played against players like Ravanelli, Baresi, Mancini, Baggio and Savicevic.

"But I think the hardest opponent of all had to be Zola. He possesses so much natural talent on the ball and can create so much. "He can turn so quickly and can create and score."

Bissani arrived at Turf Moor on the recommendation of Heart of Midlothian centre-half Bruno Pascale, a team-mate of Heath's former Everton colleague, Neil Pointon. He added: "I saw Burnley play Bournemouth last weekend and I was impressed.

"They play a 5-3-2 formation, while in Italy I am more used to playing as a man-marker in a 4-4-2.

"But I'm quite adaptable in defence and I feel I could adapt quickly.

"I like the physical approach to the game.

"I particularly liked the number four (Gerry Harrison). He defended well and was calm, as did the number six (Chris Brass)."

Channel Four soccer expert Luther Blissett, a former AC Milan star and now Waford's coach, believes we can learn from the Italian imports.

At Watford he tries to impress on his youngsters just how Italian footballers approach the game in general.

"Their preparation is outstanding," he observed. "Italian players treat the game differently to us. "Of course they get good wages but, for that, they have to stick to a strict code of conduct.

"You don't see them going for a drink after training. They are very professional in the way they project the profession of a footballer, and that is why they are superstars.

"In Italy, football is almost showbusiness, and it includes everything, even the way players dress."

Burnley chief Adrian Heath is in no doubt that Bissani can make an impression.

"He's naturally a very talented footballer.

"He is very keen and enthusiastic to make a break in English football.

"Alfredo can play anywhere across the back and has also played in a back five like we play. We will give him every opportunity."

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