Paredes focused on fulfilling his potential

After returning from an invaluable loan spell at Empoli last season, Paredes has impressed when given first-team opportunities by coach Luciano Spalletti this term.

Diego Perotti noted in an interview this week that his compatriot has the talent to be a huge success with the Giallorossi - and Paredes knows he has to put the effort in to prove such predictions right.

“It’s something he [Perotti] tells me a lot," Paredes said, ahead of Thursday's Europa League meeting with Villarreal. "I need to keep working hard if I want to stay here for years to come.

“I can improve in every area and that’s what I try to do every time I train. I know that if I keep working hard, I will get better.”

After his goalscoring performance against Torino at the weekend, the Argentine observed that he needed to maintain a high level of play to continue to get opportunities - especially with Kevin Strootman and Daniele De Rossi playing in the same position.

Paredes has often come in for one or the other when he has played this season, but insists it makes no difference to him which one he partners in the centre of the park.

“The boss asks me to do the same things with both Daniele and Kevin," he noted. "I enjoy playing with both of them and I just try to play as well as I can – there’s no difference for me.”