Fikayo Tomori talk through Italy’s move, Scudetto race, and style of Serie A: “It’s more like an American football”
Fikayo Tomori has been one of AC Milan’s key players this season, and he and Pierre Kalulu have kept four clean sheets in their last four games. He’s also loving life in Italy.
The defender signed a one-year loan deal with the Rossoneri from Chelsea in January 2021, and Milan redeemed him the following summer. It’s been a good experience thus far for both parties, and there may be another trophy on the horizon.
In an interview with The Guardian, Tomori discussed life in Italy and the current Scudetto competition. He also addressed the racial abuse he and Mike Maignan received before halftime against Cagliari during their previous match.
What it’s like to live in Italy…
“I always saw myself one day living in another country,” says Tomori, “whether that was for football or just in life. I always wanted to learn a new language. At home, my parents were from Nigeria, so they spoke Yoruba to me, and obviously, at school, you learn languages, but I came to Italy determined to learn Italian. Even if I was only going to be here on loan for six months, I wanted to at least be able to know the present tense.”
On missing out on an England call-up…
“Simply put, I just have to make sure I’m playing at a high level. And then, when I am called on, to ensure that I am prepared. My top priority right now is Milan and what I can do here..”
On the Scudetto…
“We’re in a good position but we’re taking it game by game. Hopefully, in the end, we have something to celebrate, and the manager’s mum can let him rest.”
Milan has eight games left in the season, and with a three-point lead, it’s all up to them. The supporters will be tense, as they have been waiting ten years for the Scudetto.
On Maldini…
“The other day, he was discussing the speed of the ball as it goes through the back with us. You want to make sure you’re impressing him as a defensive player..”
On the racial insults against Cagliari…
“That was not a good moment. But all the players helped me to get away from the situation. Everyone knew what was going on. I spoke to the referee and since then everyone’s been very supportive and tried to give me as much support as possible, which was great. The steps to try and stop this are what we need to do next. It was a sad moment for me and Mike as well but the club was very supportive and they gave a reaction to it very quickly.”
On the distinction between Serie A and the Premier League…
“In England, it’s more like basketball. Everything’s end-to-end, there’s more intensity, a lot more happens reactively. In Italy, it’s more like American football. It’s like you have ‘plays’. When the ball’s here, I need to be here. When the ball goes, I know I have to be two meters over in that direction, or be looking for this particular player …
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