He may be shy but he’s always got a smile on his face. Ishak Belfodil was beaming as he took the fans questions on today’s episode of InterNOS, the weekly show on Inter Channel featuring the Nerazzurri stars.
“I work every day to earn a place in the team,” he told Nagaja Beccalossi and Roberto Monzani. “But obviously in a big club like Inter there’s a lot of competition for places. I think we’ve had a good start to the season and that wasn’t easy with such a new group. I feel better every day and I hope, sooner or later, not to have a starting place – because that means little given as we make lots of changes from one game to the next – but to always be on form.”
That’s ‘Belfo’s’ aim, after his time at Inter began with Ramadan falling during the pre-season training camp: “That wasn’t the first time I’ve done it. It was the first time it fell in the middle of pre-season though, and that caused me a bit of bother, but I’ve never thought that I didn’t play well because I respected Ramadan. There are mosques in Milan too, sadly there aren’t many Algerians but there are a lot of Egyptians.”
And his memories of his time with Parma? “To be honest I don’t think I showed too much of what I can do, I hope that through hard work I can start to show everything I’m capable of. When I found out Inter were interested in me I was delighted. Was I excitable? No, because I always stay very calm even if I’m happy on the inside. I don’t really like to give too much away in terms of how I’m feeling.”
What about his preferred position? Does he see himself more as a striker, playing in the hole, or as a support striker? “I like playing up top, but if I don’t touch the ball for too long I start to feel useless for the team. I can’t say that being a pure striker is the position that I’d like most because there are some strikers who can go 40 minutes without touching the ball and then score. If I don’t touch the ball, even if I’ve already scored twice, I feel rubbish. Even if it’s just a pass, I need to touch the ball.”
How is it training with Diego Milito? “Now I see him every day, he’s a very nice, normal guy and he doesn’t show that he’s a legend – which is he. Perhaps when I leave or when he does I’ll say to myself, “Blimey, you played with Diego Milito!”
The fans who write in to Inter Channel also ask Belfodil to be meaner on the pitch: “My coaches tell me that too and they’re right. I need to be meaner in front of goal to attack the keeper. That’s something I need to improve upon.”
He also discussed the national team (“we have a good team with lots of young players who are at big clubs. We can do well”) and the fact he’s been compared to Benzema: “I like the comparison, actually let’s say I don’t mind it because I take it as a compliment, but I’m not thinking about it too much, I certainly won’t get above my station.”
“I like the stadiums in Italian football – sadly they’re not all full, but they’re great. The San Siro is beautiful and the Olimpico is nice too, just as the stadium in Turin is. People watch matches very differently in France, here people pay a lot more attention.”
Ricky Alvarez is the team-mate who has impressed him the most: “I don’t understand how on earth people were criticising him last year because I think he was playing well and he used to beat his man.”
Going back to the press conference in which he was introduced alongside Mauro Icardi – Ishak was asked if people could talk about friendship in football and responded ‘no’ – Belfodil explained: “My answer was misinterpreted. I didn’t quite get the question and I thought they were asking me whether there were enemies in football. Am I a friend of Mauro’s? Of course, I get on well with him, we chat and have a laugh. We have the same aim and we like playing together in training too.”
The evening with Belfodil finished with a quickfire question and answer session:
Are you afraid of flying?
“No, but there was turbulence in America and we all had a fright.”
What does passion mean to you?
“It’s what makes you follow what you feel.”
What would you ask the press?
“Nothing… they ask the questions, that’s their job.”
What’s the weakness in your character?
“I’m a bit shy, but when I trust someone I even talk too much…”
And your strength?
“My character because I grew up in areas that aren’t easy to live in and that helps me a lot in tough times.”
Can you cook?
“No.”
What’s your favourite dish?
“In Paris I often eat at home because my mum makes Algerian food. Here in Italy I really like pizza and pasta.”
Are you superstitious?
“No.”
Who’s number one in the world?
“My mum.”
What’s the first thing you think about in the morning?
“I pray. Every morning at 6 then I go back to sleep for a bit.”
Source: Inter.i
