England youngster Rio Ngumoha has opened up about his high-profile decision to leave Chelsea’s academy to continue his development at Liverpool. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.
Describing the move as an easy choice for his career, Ngumoha stated that Anfield simply offered a more tangible route to professional football in addition to a fresh environment to test his limits.
Rio added that despite the prestige of Chelsea’s developmental setup, he didn’t feel like the path to the first team was smooth.
His words, “I feel like I needed a new challenge. I feel like if I stayed at Chelsea… not saying that I wouldn’t have got to the first team as quick, because I believe in my ability, but I feel like Liverpool just gave me a new pathway.
The plan that they set for me was straightforward really. For me, it was a no-brainer going to Liverpool, and they just said if I prove myself, because they know how much ability I had, then they know that I would definitely be a first-team player and definitely a star for them in the making. I think going to Liverpool so far has been the right choice.
I trained with them only a few times but Raheem Sterling pulled me to the side a couple of times and told me he could see I had talent but I should never zone out in the game and I should always be in the game.
The best players are always in the game in the last minutes. If you look at him and Mo [Salah], they’re always there until the crucial moments. Learning off them was important.
The way it roars, I’ve never heard anything like it. It’s special. It’s definitely special to play in front of them.”
On Yamal, “I think what he’s doing changed football for young player. He’s phenomenal. He’s one of the best in the world.
Seeing what he can do so young inspires me and all the other young players in how we can just play freely. The way he plays, it’s like it’s his pitch. It’s a good challenge.”
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