Former Juventus player Samuel Iling-Junior held a press conference to introduce himself to journalists and fans, discussing his eventful summer and transfer market moves. After impressing on the pitch with strong performances and a goal, Iling-Junior addressed the media about his journey from Juventus to Aston Villa and finally to Bologna.
The young English player explained his brief experience in England and why he decided to leave Aston Villa: “I did the entire preseason with Aston Villa and played a few matches, then I spoke with the manager and realized there wasn’t much space for me. Since I appreciate honesty, I preferred to look for a team where I could have more opportunities.”
This led to his move to Bologna: “There’s a good project here in Bologna, as I had already seen last year. In the summer, I moved to Aston Villa, then Bologna’s offer came. It’s a city I like, with a manager I respect, so I decided to come here. I was already impressed last year by the environment and the fans, and I really liked it.”
Iling-Junior made sure to acknowledge the teachings of one of his former coaches: “I have to thank Allegri a lot, who helped me understand the defensive phase. With Coach Italiano, we always bring a lot of energy to the field, and that’s the kind of football I like.” He mentioned receiving congratulatory messages from his former coach and teammates after scoring against Como: “I received many messages from my former teammates and my ex-coach. I have a good relationship with everyone.”
When asked about his football idol, Iling-Junior didn’t hesitate: “Henry.” He also expressed his excitement about playing Champions League football at the Dall’Ara stadium: “The emotion of the Champions League is always special. It was beautiful.” Looking ahead to their match against Liverpool after facing Atalanta, he added: “Playing at Anfield is always an indescribable emotion. For me, being English, it means a lot because I have the opportunity to showcase myself.”
When asked who would score more goals between him and Orsolini, Iling-Junior diplomatically responded: “I’m not sure about the goals, but for me, the important thing is that we both have a great season in this championship.”
He concluded the press conference with a lighthearted comment about the main difficulty he’s encountered since arriving in Bologna: “Finding a house.”
