Kostas Manolas has affirmed that he is ‘happy’ at Roma and explained the secrets to his success. “My first word was ‘objective’.”
Manolas has continually been linked with moves away from Roma, but the Greece international made it clear he was settled in the Italian capital.
“I have my life in Rome and I’m happy there. My life is very simple,” he told Il Turista.
Kostas Manolas has affirmed that he is ‘happy’ at Roma and explained the secrets to his success. “My first word was ‘objective’.”
Manolas has continually been linked with moves away from Roma, but the Greece international made it clear he was settled in the Italian capital.
“I have my life in Rome and I’m happy there. My life is very simple,” he told Il Turista.
“I spend most of my free time at home with my family. I like it. I approach my career like I do life: I can go high and get great results, but I always have to keep my feet on the ground and remember where I started.
“Football, like life, gives you nothing. You have to fight to reach your objectives. My grandfather gave me my first pair of boots when I was little.
“My mother said that my first word was ‘objective’ while holding a football, not ‘mum’ or ‘dad’.
“Something inside me made me understand right away that I’d become a footballer, although I did very well at school.”
The 27-year-old has footballing pedigree in his family through uncle Stelios, a one-club man with AEK Athens who played 71 times for Greece.
“I took everything from my uncle, who was one of the best defenders in Greece,” he added.
“I fought to pursue my dream and now I’m at an excellent level, which is also thanks to my family as they’ve always supported my objective.
“My father was a doctor in Naxos. He gave up everything to help me. I trained three times a day to get to a good standard.
“When I was still a boy and was looking for a team, I found an announcement from AEK Athens on the internet, which said they were looking to take on new boys.
“I told my parents that I was going and the club took me on. However, a few months later the Coach told me I wasn’t ready yet, so I took a taxi to go to Fyli and the next day I signed a professional contract with Thrasyvoulos. In life we must always believe in ourselves.”