Roma defender Rick Karsdorp hopes this will be “the right season to prove my worth”, after missing the whole of last season.
The Dutchman signed from Feyenoord last summer, but immediately had to undergo meniscus surgery.
That delayed his debut until October, and after playing 82 minutes against Crotone the full-back went off with pain in his other knee, later revealed to be a damaged cruciate ligament.
“I’m much better than last season,” Karsdorp told Roma TV.
Roma defender Rick Karsdorp hopes this will be “the right season to prove my worth”, after missing the whole of last season.
The Dutchman signed from Feyenoord last summer, but immediately had to undergo meniscus surgery.
That delayed his debut until October, and after playing 82 minutes against Crotone the full-back went off with pain in his other knee, later revealed to be a damaged cruciate ligament.
“I’m much better than last season,” Karsdorp told Roma TV.
“I’m doing pre-season, the preparation is fine and I want to show what I couldn’t show last year.
“This season it will be very important for me to play, I hope it will be the right season to prove my worth. It’s a pleasure to train with the lads.
“I know the Coach, my teammates, the city and how things work here, but I feel like a new player.
“It’s definitely an advantage to know what the boss wants from me, but I want to repay the affection of the fans, as well as the trust of the club that believed in me.”
Karsdorp isn’t the only Dutchman in the squad, with Justin Kluivert joining him and Kevin Strootman at Trigoria.
“It’s always nice to meet some compatriots, it’s important to also be able to speak your own language, you can establish a friendship even off the pitch.
“Kluivert has just arrived, he’s 19 and I hope I can help him.”