Every young footballer has that one club where they burst onto the scene, that period in their budding careers when everything just clicks and their amazing potential is on full display. For Super Eagles defender Ola Aina, that breakthrough club was Torino, Footynaija.com reports.
After spending four years in Chelsea’s youth team system, Aina managed just six senior appearances in the 16/17 before being shipped out on loan to Hull City.
Aina enjoyed a very good campaign with Hull in the EFL Championship but with no clear route into Chelsea’s first team, the Super Eagles defender was forced to settle for another loan move to Italian Serie A side Torino.
That move, Aina, who spent five good years on the books of the Turin-based club, believes played a defining role in his career, helping him to become the player that he is today.
“Going out to Italy — at first I was scared, man. But once I got out there, it was an experience that I cherished,” Aina recalled during an interview with Versus.
“I knew how to live on my own, but living on my own abroad was a whole different thing. Then on the pitch stuff, there was a different style of play, different ways they coached me.
“I really honed my defending. Italy’s known for its defensive tactics. So yeah, I learned a lot there — football-wise and personally.”
Aina has since gone on to become one of the most reliable full-backs in Europe. Last season, the 28-year-old Nottingham Forest star was easily one of the best RBs in the Premier League. He has also become an established international with the Forest star easily one of the first name on the Super Eagles team sheet whenever he’s fit.