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Fikayo Tomori has spoken about AC Milan’s resurgence so far this season, admitting that he has an eye on the World Cup next year.
In the last winter transfer window and in the summer mercato, there were some doubts about whether Tomori would remain at Milan. Juventus and Tottenham were apparently interested, but he rejected their advances to try and get back to his best at Milan.
So far this season, he has succeeded. The Englishman has become a bedrock of Massimiliano Allegri’s three-man defence, playing on the right side of the trio. He appears to be back to his best form, leading to suggestions an international recall could become an option and that a renewal is close.
Tomori did an interview with the BBC in which he spoke about Milan’s start to the season and his international ambitions, with the World Cup on the horizon in a few months.
Your full name is Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori…
“My parents are Nigerian so the names come from their tribes. Each tribe has a sentence which is shortened to a name, so Oluwafikayomi means ‘God has filled me with joy’ and Oluwadamilola means ‘God has filled me with wealth’.”
Milan seem to be back on the right track this season…
“We all came back in the summer with a point to prove, individually and collectively. We have to attack the season and get back in the Champions League.
“Physically it’s the best I’ve felt. Part of that is knowing where I have to be on the pitch. It’s helped me a lot when it comes to reading the game.
“It’s a simple thing, but there’s no need to over-extend yourself as a defender. It’s about running smarter, not harder.”
Why did you move to Italy? You are now fluent in Italian…
“I wanted to stabilise my career. The accent comes naturally too. If I don’t speak in the accent or switch it on, they won’t understand.
“It’s a different way of life, but the biggest difference is how we train. In Italy it’s a lot more focus-based in terms of how we’ll play, whereas in England training can be more physical and intense.
“When I was growing up there was a stereotype that English players didn’t go abroad, but there’s quite a few now, which shows we can go abroad and adapt to a different way of living too.”
Paolo Maldini rang on Zoom before you joined…
“It’s mad. You walk in every day and you see pictures of players like Maldini, (Franco) Baresi, Kaka, Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) and (Alessandro) Nesta. So you definitely feel the expectation knowing those players were in the same building.
“And it comes from the fans you meet in the city. You realise how much weight the shirt holds. I love that they’re so proud of the club and there’s an expectation for us to deliver and do what those before did.”
Winning the Scudetto would surely enhance your chances of going to the World Cup with England…
“Of course, I want that for myself and I know that winning the league will help. I spoke to him [Tuchel] after the last international break in November. We’ve spoken a few times and the message is to keep doing what I’m doing.
“The World Cup is six months away and there’s a lot of football to be played. I know he’s watching and keeping an eye because he called up (team-mate) Ruben Loftus-Cheek. That gives me the confidence I can make it.
“He came to Milan last season and I know he gets our data and sees our clips regularly too. The way he’s spoken about it is that it’s difficult because there’s so many players in that position, and I get it because you have players like John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn and Ezri Konsa. But the World Cup is still a dream and I’m working towards that.”
Luka Modric, who joined in the summer, lives in the same apartment complex…
“I guess it’s not too shabby of a building then.”
Do you ever pick his brains?
“Yes, but it’s more about listening when he speaks and seeing the way he carries himself and trains. You just know the levels and, because it’s Modric, whenever he speaks you just listen.”
English (US) ·