Daichi Kamada explains why he chose Lazio and asked Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu for advice, but warns he will ‘offer something different’ to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder already made his debut in the starting XI for their 2-1 defeat to Lecce at the weekend, which kicked off the Serie A season.
He had also been linked with several clubs including Milan and Roma before finally signing for the Biancocelesti as a free agent.
“I am very happy to be here and thank everyone who gave me this opportunity. Lazio have a special history and I am proud to be a part of it,” said Kamada in his press conference.
The Japan international was asked if he had sought advice from a few of his countrymen who had experience of Serie A and he turned to ex-Bologna full-back, now at Arsenal, Tomiyasu “a few times.”
There is inevitably pressure on Kamada, because he is stepping into the midfield role that had been held by Milinkovic-Savic.
“I realise these are big shoes to fill, but I am not the same player as Sergej, so I will not be the new version if him. I offer something different.
“I am not someone who can win a match by himself, I have to play well within a team, like I did in Frankfurt.”
His contract with Eintracht Frankfurt expired on June 30, yet he did not sign for Lazio until August 4.
“I didn’t expect to be without a club for so long, but I wanted to wait and make sure I made the right decision. I am very happy to have said yes to Lazio, as I can grow with these teammates and this coach. It was a difficult summer, but I think that I made the right choice.
“I wanted a team that would challenge for the Champions League and I received many offers from different teams, but after speaking to the President, I felt the right sense of enthusiasm.
“I also knew Maurizio Sarri was a great tactician and can see margin for improvement in my attacking modes. The Bundesliga helped me improve defensively, now I want to mature in attack too.”