AC Milan's new midfield signing, who was signed from Chelsea, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, has granted an interesting article to The Times. Here are his words:
"Uomo means ‘man on’, then sinistra means left and destro right. Because you hear it quite a lot in training, you pick up these words quite quickly. Solo is ‘you’re alone, you’re free’."
Loftus-Cheek added:
"I always contemplated moving. This past season, coming towards the end, it felt like the right time to move on. I was starting to feel really good in my body and my injuries had cleared up. After the past two seasons feeling really good and not playing in the position you want to play, I was feeling like a caged animal. I just want to be free now to play, and I feel like it was the right time to move on... But at the same time it was a no-brainer to move on for me. It was a bit of both — something I knew I wanted to do and had to do but, at the same time, leaving behind a big part of your life and what has been your life. Change is always difficult but sometimes it might be the best thing."
On his time at Chelsea and playing against AC Milan, Loftus-Cheek said:
"There were a few bits when we played Milan in the Champions League. I never thought much of it at the time. I was focused on what we were doing. We were doing quite well under Graham Potter. You don’t want to look too far into the future but towards the end of the season we weren’t doing as well. Things changed quite a lot and that was the point I was open to seeing if my future might change. I started asking Fikayo around that time, secretly, what it was like.”
On his friend Fikayo Tomori:
"I couldn't tell him that I was speaking to Milan, though. I was kind of asking him what it was like and he said, ‘Why are you asking me this?’ I spoke to Fik a lot and when the move got closer I told him I might be going, it’s happening. He has been very good with me here. Not knowing the language, he has translated a lot and let me know how things work. He’s helped me settle in.”
Now, Tomori is almost fluent in Italian...
"He’s unbelievable — that’s what I aspire to. It’s really important I learn the language. It will make it easier in football, listening to the coach, in everyday life in Milan. Football is the easy bit for me at the moment. You step on the pitch and play. It’s the lifestyle, trying to find a home is still ongoing, but I’m really enjoying it."
Loftus-Cheek’s aim is to help Milan return to their once lofty status...
On the AC Milan fans at the San Siro when he faced the Rossoneri team in the Champions League:
"Jorginho was waiting to take a penalty and you could hear these whistles that were so loud it was unbelievable. You’re thinking, imagine playing with that kind of support but it’s behind you. It’s going to be incredible. I’m really looking forward to playing there."
On his time at Chelsea, Loftus-Cheek declared:
"It was always up and down with injuries, trying to gain momentum and breaking down again. That was the theme all along. The best times I had were when I was fit. I know that sounds kind of dull. But it was just because I was so down a lot of the time not being able to play. The year with [the head coach Maurizio] Sarri [in 2018-19] was when I stayed fit for a lot of the season, I was playing and scoring goals and playing in the right position. The times I left Chelsea I improved the most, which is a bit strange considering I was there so long. When I left for Palace I matured and started playing for England. Then, again, I left for Fulham and I felt like I improved a hell of a lot."
Loftus-Cheek wants to play for the England national team:
"I definitely want to play for England again, of course I do, anyone does. I feel this season I can keep that going, play a lot of games and start to enjoy football again. We’ll then see what happens from there but I’m still super hungry to play football, to perform. I feel like a kid again, really excited."
