'Incredible' - Fabio Borini reminisces about 'impossible' Sunderland achievement

The 29-year-old joined the Mackems on loan from Liverpool in 2013 before making his move to the Stadium of Light permanent a couple of years later.

Borini would go on to make 93 appearances in the north east, scoring 17 goals and fighting a number of relegation battles.

The Italian played his part in improbable survival acts under Gus Poyet and Sam Allardyce, and speaking during an interview with Calcio Mercato in his home country, he confessed his pride at his achievements on Wearside.

When asked about his fondest memories from his playing career to date, he said: “The goal against Holland [for Italy’s U21s], I always remember. It was the U21 Euros and my goal allowed us to reach the final.

“Football and emotionally it was a very strong moment, which you don’t remember well at the moment.

“But if you go digging a little bit makes you feel the ants in the legs, not so much the chills, but the emotion.

“The other is staying up with Sunderland, a truly incredible moment.

"We were in an almost impossible ranking position, the whole path was strong.

"I remember that those were the holidays that I enjoyed the most because I was energised for the whole season.”

Borini left Sunderland in 2017 to join AC Milan, and now plies his trade in Turkey with Karagumruk.