Inter youngster Xian Emmers, who is currently out on loan at Dutch side Almere City, has recalled his transfer from KRC Genk’s academy to Inter back in the Summer of 2015.
“I moved when I was 15. It was wonderful. If such a team calls you, you don’t think twice, you just go. It’s a daydream,” he explained in an interview with Italian news outlet FCInterNews.it.
“I had never been to Italy, it is a country that I love because you eat very well here. You are amazed for the first few months, then you get used to it, even if Inter remains Inter.”
He then spoke on his experience in Inter’s youth teams, during which time he enjoyed a lot of success with many of these teams winning many trophies at youth level: “It’s true, we did good things, We won the league, the Super Cup and Viareggio Cup.
Next the Belgian youngster spoke on which of his youth team teammates impressed him most and spoke on the team in general.
“Zaniolo. He had incredible strength but let’s not forget Pinamonti and Vanheusden. We were a good team, we were close.
“Each of us worked for the other, that was our strength. It was clear that there were important individuals. It was a winning mix.”
He was then asked about the fact he appeared set to play in the first team during Luciano Spalletti’s time in charge of Inter but admitted that he did not feel ready.
“I honestly wasn’t ready mentally at least that’s what I think. To play for a team like Inter you need to have a cool head. Now, thanks to the experience of the past year, I am learning that too, we will see where the path taken will lead me.
“Speaking of Spalletti, he told me to always work well and that I know how to play football. He said that if I continued to work hard, I would go far. I work toward this today. I’m 100% focused on Almere City and have the desire to improve myself day after day.”
He was then asked whether he thinks he and former Inter Primavera teammate Zinho Vanheusden, now captain of Standard Liege, could be back playing together at Inter in the future.
“You never know. We’ll see. I work, I always give 100% and we will see what will happen. It is clear that for all players it is a dream to wear the Inter shirt. I send a big good luck to Zinho, he is strong, he has already shown it and he will be back as he was before.”
In conclusion he spoke on who impressed him most when he had the opportunity to train with the Inter first team.
“Above all I must say Lautaro, even if each of the team tried to advise us young players. Let me also mention Nainggolan. As a fellow countryman he took me under his wing and gave me lots of advice. He’s n the edge of the project? True but he remains very strong and will know what to do.”
