Curtis Jones has provided a clear insight into why he chose to leave Liverpool for Inter Milan this summer, with the midfielder pointing directly to Cristian Chivu’s influence on the move.
The 25-year-old brought a 16-year association with Liverpool to an end when he completed a £30m transfer to the Serie A side. Having joined the club as a nine-year-old and progressed through the academy into the first team, Jones’ departure came as one of the more notable decisions of Liverpool’s summer window.
For Jones, the key factor centred on the project put forward in Milan and, in particular, the role of the Inter head coach. He said: “There’s a reason I came here: the phone calls we had, how the team plays, his tactical ideas, and how he works every single day.
“It’s the small things he says, things that might seem minor but end up having a massive impact. Plus, he has immense experience and played at the highest level himself. He’s managed the squad brilliantly. He’s ‘one of us,’ and to me, that’s fundamental.”
Photo IMAGO
Inter Milan Start Settling Curtis Jones Quickly
Jones has also underlined how quickly he has adapted to his new surroundings. The early signs suggest he has settled well within the squad, both on and off the pitch, and that comfort has helped ease the transition from the Premier League to Serie A.
He said: “I just feel at home with the lads. Since the first day, they’ve been unbelievable and so I can just be myself.
“Of course I’ve got a point to prove but I know that if I’m just myself, the lads will like me, the staff and the fans as well.”
It is an important next step in a career that had already seen him accumulate 228 appearances for Liverpool, while scoring 22 goals. Jones was long viewed as one of the club’s most technically gifted homegrown players, but the chance to take on a new challenge in Italy clearly appealed.
Serie A Impact Already Emerging
His opening weeks at Inter have been encouraging….
..
