Bologna defender and leader Sam Beukema made a few statements in which he talked about his relationship with the city and much more, starting with his ambition to return to Europe.
FROM MOTTA TO ITALIAN. “We had Thiago Motta and now Italian: we had a great season last year and we are there again this year. We are one family, one body. Last year, before the match against Juve, in the locker room they showed us a video packaged by the press office. There were all the family members, parents, friends, wives, girlfriends greeting us with compliments and love. I still have chills when I think back to my parents saying they are proud of me. We can go back to Europe because we are strong, without being cocky.”
INTEREST OF THE BIGGIES. “Am I being followed by Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico and Real Madrid? My dad is my agent together with another person, to them I always said: when there is something very concrete, let’s talk about it. If not, nothing. That’s it: we have never talked about the market, but I am in love with Bologna, a special city, polite people and passionate fans. It may be that I lived many summers as a child in Riccione, we have an apartment there: I like everything about this area.”
MODEL. “van Dijk I find is a cut above everyone. I dream of playing with him together in the national team, even with Zirkzee. Josh and I talk all the time, even this morning. We talk not only about soccer, but about life. I always watch Manchester United. We have a chat with him and Ndoye and others, there is a really strong friendship between all of us. There was a chemistry created between us, which still exists today, huge, unique.”
CHANGE OF ROLE. “At the beginning of my career I was a trequartista, then a director, and after that I dropped back to the central area of the defense. The reason? I grew in stature, so it would have been hard to be sub or play. When I played for the Eagles they told me they didn’t have confidence in me, they even invited me to switch or stay on minimum wage. I stayed, little by little I gained confidence, someone got injured, I found the right opportunities and scored several goals. From there it began.”
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
