Cristian Battocchio hopes to return to Watford this summer but says he does not yet know where he will be playing this season.

The 21-year-old spent the last campaign on loan with the Hornets and made 25 appearances for the club, scoring twice.

The former Under-20 Italian international said he would welcome a return to Vicarage Road for the 2013/14 campaign.

When asked if he will rejoin the Hornets, Battocchio told Tuttocalciatori.net: "I do not know yet. I certainly hope to return to Watford.”

Like many of the loanees at Watford last season, Battocchio enjoyed a good relationship with the Hornets supporters and says they treated him well during his time with the club.

“The supporters are fabulous. They travelled home and away, I was really surprised,” he said.

"To the fans I say thank you for how they treated me and I hope to come back and continue to play for the Hornets."

Watford have refused to confirm which players are currently on the pre-season trip to Italy.

Joel Ekstrand, Ikechi Anya, Daniel Pudil, Marco Cassetti and Almen Abdi are currently with the squad but it is unknown whether Battocchio is.