“At the start of the transfer window, the Milan directors told me that they needed to sell me and in my head I was ready to leave. I had the opportunity to come here to Florence, in a super ambitious project and I liked the idea straight away”. Speaking like this – in his presentation conference – is directly Yacine Adlithe new midfielder of the Florentine arrived from the Rossoneri club in the very last hours of the market: “For me it was simple, seeing everything that is put into the project. I had no doubts”.
What is your goal as a team? And you in the long term, personally?
“I arrived a few days ago, I trained with the team and played straight away. However, we all want the same thing, to win and give our all. For me we have to aim high, even if there are strong teams in Serie A we can have our space. We have no limits, we work hard and look at game after game. The main thing now is to get to know each other well, even us new guys have to settle in. It’s not yet time to think about what we’ll do at the end of the season, but what we’ll do now”.
What room for improvement do you see for yourself in Serie A?
“This is a championship that makes you grow a lot, when you come from abroad it’s very hard to settle in. Football is different, tactically I think it’s the most difficult in the world. And if a player moves from Italy after a few years he’s more complete, even now I think I’m different from when I arrived and changing position has helped me. With Pioli I worked a lot on the defensive phase… However I still have to grow in this aspect, giving more. I also have to be physically ready but I feel good”.
Has Pioli ever spoken to you about Florence? How exciting was it to immediately provide an assist for the 2-2?
“Yes, I spoke a bit with Pioli and also with his staff. They have always spoken highly of this club, the city and the environment. I was immediately convinced and ready to come to Florence, there was no need to be convinced. For me and for anyone else. I am super happy to be here and celebrating a goal is always great, but I care about celebrating victories”.
Do you think you can follow the examples of Saelemaekers and De Ketelaere?
“I don’t know if it’s something that always works, but I want to work well. I want all the best for Milan but now I’m in Florence, I work only for myself and not to think that I deserved more. I want to give 100% for Fiorentina and myself.”
Read Yacine Adli’s full press conference here