Inter wing-back Denzel Dumfries feels happy with his decision to join Inter over the summer, and feels that he is fitting in well.
Speaking to Dutch news outlet Voetbalinternational, the 25-year-old explained that the Nerazzurri were always his first choice and that he had wanted to be a success at the club since joining from PSV in the summer.
Dumfries arrived at Inter in August after the club had been pursuing him throughout the summer transfer window, with the Dutchman selected as the right profile to take over from Achraf Hakimi on the right.
In the early parts of the season, Dumfries showed flashes of his quality but was not a regular in the starting eleven and was not consistent enough in his form.
Over the course of the season the former PSV man has played his way into form, however, establishing himself as a regular in the team over the past few weeks especially after an injury to Matteo Darmian.
Of his move, Dumfries stated that “It took some time before the deal with Inter was closed. When it was done I got chills.”
“I called all the players to introduce myself, I spent days with Mino Raiola,” he added.” My desire to wear the Inter shirt prevailed.”
He added that “Everton were interested too, but I didn’t think twice. I really wanted to go to Inter. The champions of Italy, a club with great heritage in Italy and in the Champions League.”
“I wanted to play football and show what I can do here,” he said of his start at the club. “I can say that it was logical that I wasn’t a starter right away – I arrived here without enough preparation and it is my first time abroad.”
“Different language, a new environment, a different culture and a completely new way of playing,” he elaborated. “If [in the Netherlands] in a 4-3-3 the ball is on the left, I tuck in from the right.”
“I’ve been doing this for almost twenty years. My body does it automatically, but at Inter it is forbidden,” he went on.
“Here I have to stay wide,” he explained. “I worked hard and learned it. Inter and Serie A football is very tactical. I didn’t underestimate anything, I knew it would be like that.”
“But I expected to play more at the beginning, I will honest about that,” he added.
“But it’s nice that after a period on the bench I have been able to play as a regular,” he continued. “I’m used to the team, the players, and the style of play and now I have seen more of the opposition we face.”
“I feel that I am more and more ready to be a key player at all times,” Dumfries continued. “This is what I want from myself.”
He explained that “The first few months here I learned an important lesson: be realistic, don’t expect too much too fast, and give yourself time.”
“Inter have always had a very clear plan for me,” he went on, “they wanted to calm me down and give me time. And it’s nice, because it’s really different moving from PSV to Inter.”
“But now that I have the new home, I can really settle in and fully concentrate on football,” he emphasized.
“I experienced my first Derby della Madonnina against Milan in the middle of the stadium,” he recalled. “It is an incredible feeling.”
“These are things you dream of if you are a player,” he added. “I had goosebumps all over me.”
“The stadium is not at full capacity due to restrictions, but I can’t wait to get back to playing with the stadiums full in Serie A,’ he said.
“Playing without fans feels bad,” he added. “You feel almost helpless.”
“I’m a player who needs the fans,” Dumfries explained, “it gives me energy and a boost, it makes me better.”
Of his settling in in Milan, he stated that “Whenever I walk around I realize how beautiful Milan is. Luckily I can walk around quietly. Every now and then an autograph or a photo, but apart from that we can do whatever we want.”
He added that “It’s fantastic, because Milan has wonderful shops, not for nothing is it considered the city of fashion in Italy.”
“Life here is wonderful,” he stated, “you can always eat fantastic food here. Of course I came to Milan to play for Inter, but I also certainly want to enjoy my experience here.”
Regarding Inter teammates he feels close to, Dumfries stated that “Stefan de Vrij is already in his fourth season with the Nerazzurri. He is a very experienced teammate.”
“It’s a good thing, because they can explain to me what is expected of me tactically,” he went on. “Ivan Perisic helps me with tactical work, he is in the same position on the other side of the pitch.”
