Fikayo Tomori: Defender loving life in Italy after move to AC Milan helped him earn England recall | Football News
3 min read
Defender Fikayo Tomori is back in the England squad for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers – and says life with AC Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has helped him get his career firmly back on an upward curve.
The 23-year-old has been out of the England squad for almost two years, and his one cap came against Kosovo in a Euro 2020 qualifier back in November 2019.
He subsequently dropped out of regular contention at Chelsea but has revitalised his career with a loan move to Milan, which became permanent this summer, helping them to second in the current Serie A table.
Tomori’s form in Italy has earned him a recall to the England squad and the central defender has a good chance of featuring in the upcoming qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary.
Asked about the disappointment of not featuring more for Chelsea, Tomori said: « Since I have been at Milan, I haven’t really thought about it.
« It was a difficult time – every footballer wants to play, and every footballer wants to show themselves on the pitch.
« When you are not able to do that it is difficult – and being able to overcome and forget about that is part of the reason why it is now going so well.
« I didn’t really dwell on it and just moved on and put it as part of football, part of life.
Veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has helped Tomori settle in Italy
« I had a really good support system with my family and my friends – and now I’ve overcome that I want to take it further and keep progressing
« It feels good, to have been here and then out of it for a while, and then to be back, I am really happy.
« And now my goal is to stay here, with my performances here and back in Milan.
« Every footballer wants to play and I got the opportunity to do that at Milan – and when it came, such a big club, I was so excited and I am really happy that it has gone well so far.
« We have started the new season well and the club have shown a lot of faith in me, a lot of confidence.
« So I am really comfortable there, really settled and it’s led me to be here, so it’s all going really well. »
Tomori also praised the impact of the 40-year-old forward Ibrahimovic on the AC Milan squad.
« There is this view of him in the media, but ever since I got there he was speaking to me, helping me with the language, » said Tomori. « Telling me where he wants me to play the ball.
« He has been a really big help and has such a big aura in the dressing room.
« He is a real leader and, when he plays he gives everyone a lift – he is loved in Milan. »
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Tomori has not been in an England squad since they started taking a knee ahead of matches in a stance against racism and discrimination.
He thinks the squad’s stance is having an impact and hopes things are improving.
« I definitely think it (racism) is a problem in football, » he said.
« To have to worry about things like this, it isn’t really fair, so making these kind of gestures does raise awareness.
« We are not going to stand for it, we are coming to play football and compete.
« There are some people who are not as educated as other people and they do silly things, but I think we are making the right steps to eradicate it.
« You see stadiums being closed and stuff, so it is moving in the right direction. »
