Halid Djankpata left Everton during the summer transfer window for a new adventure with Spezia.
The 19-year-old, who was brought up in Italy, opted for a return to the country with opportunities at the Premier League side not likely in the short or medium term.
Needing minutes to aid his development, the midfielder signed for the Serie B side with the hope of doing just that. Spezia are currently third after four matches, and the top three are all on three points.
As it stands, Spezia look set for a potential local battle with Pisa for promotion to Italy’s top flight.
Djankpata has been speaking to local newspaper Citta della Spezia, and shared his excitement to finally pick up some minutes on the pitch: “I am very happy to be here. I thank everyone, these weeks have been very nice for me, everyone has been nice to me and I can’t wait to start playing. It will be a season of growth, it is my first time in the first team. At Everton I played a few friendlies but it is not the same. I can’t wait to play for this team, it is very important. It will be an important season for us, we have a lot of things to do.”
The youngster’s big footballing hero is Paul Pogba, and despite the Frenchman’s recent troubles, Djankpata is looking to use him as inspiration to succeed in Italian football: “I have always followed him, when I was in Italy I supported Juve and I was inspired by him. His movements, his passes, his long-range shots and the way he plays, his style inspires me, I hope to reach his level.”
Given how long he’d been with the Toffees, it was obviously a big decision to leave them for pastures new, but the Spezia player is convinced he’s made the right decision and done so with the correct timing: “I played at Everton for seven years, I was there from the Under 13s to the Under 21s. I had a good time, but it was time to leave, to be in a different world. It was a different path to the one I found here, here we play much more tactically than in England, but I can’t wait to play. I am a midfielder who really likes to attack, I like to make assists and score, I am very athletic and good at counterattacks.”
Bouna Fortuna, Halid!
