Samuel Iling-Junior has opened up about his struggle getting integrated at Aston Villa, stating there was not enough space for him in the squad, Afrosport reports.
The 20-year-old winger, who is of Congolese heritage, was purchased by Villa from Juventus this summer in a deal that saw Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz had to Turin.
Iling-Junior however was not integrated at Villa Park and was immediately shipped back to Italy but on loan to Bologna.
Rather than feel disappointed, the former Chelsea academy graduate thanked Villa boss Unai Emery for his honesty in allowing him move to a place he would have more game time.
“I did all the pre-season at Aston Villa, and I also played some games, then I talked with coach [Unai Emery] and I realised there wouldn’t be much room for me and since I appreciate honesty, I preferred to look for a team where I could get more chances,” Iling-Junior was quoted in Tuttosport.
“There’s a nice project here at Bologna, as I had already witnessed last season.
“Back in the summer, I moved to Aston Villa, then got an offer from Bologna, a city I like with a coach I appreciate, so I decided to come here.”
Iling-Junior also thanked former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri who signed him as a youth player in 2020 from Chelsea and gave him his senior Bianconeri debut two years later.
“I have to thank Allegri a lot, he helped me understand the defensive phase,” he added.
“With coach Italiano we always put a lot of energy on the pitch, this is the football I love.”
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Iling-Junior made his Bologna debut against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League last week. The Rossoblu will also Villa and Liverpool and he is looking forward to facing the Reds.
“The emotions felt in the Champions League are always unique, it was nice [to make my debut],” he explained.
“Playing at Anfield is always an indescribable emotion. To me, as an Englishman, it means a lot because I have the opportunity to put myself on show”.
Iling-Junior has represented England at youth level but is eligible to play for the senior team or the DR Congo national team.
