Josh Doig's arrival at Hellas Verona in July 2022 led him straight to a demanding pre-season training camp in the Alps. Known as 'ritiro', this Italian tradition involves players preparing for the season in high-altitude settings. Despite the initial shock of intense training and a language barrier, Doig found the experience rewarding. Many Serie A clubs maintain this tradition, focusing on endurance and fitness rather than global tours. Only a few clubs, like AC Milan, venture outside Europe, emphasizing the importance of this heritage in Italian football.
"They said to me if you sign, you can go home, pack a bag, come back," laughs the Scotsman, reflecting on his arrival at Hellas Verona in July 2022. "I was expecting to be drip fed into it. But literally I signed, then two hours [drive] straight up to the mountains, not speaking the language - it was terrifying, but after a few days I loved it."
"When you're in the mountains it's just head down and work hard. You feel dead on your feet every day but it is good because you know you are getting something out of it. It is a shock to the system but it gets you right back in the swing of things with your fitness and the football way of mind."
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