Fiorentina’s Moise Kean: “Now I’m going home with a smile”

Moise Kean is growing into his role at Serie A side Fiorentina and despite some criticism, he is once again amongst the goals.

As he continues to settle into life in Firenze, Kean spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about how things are going and he also spoke about several things from his past.

When asked about how his time at La Viola is going so far, he revealed that he is going home happy for the first time in a while.

“It’s still early, but now I’m going home with a smile. It was something I’d been missing for a while.”

When asked about why things didn’t work out for him in the second stint at Juventus, the Itallian stated that everything felt like a lesson at the Bianconeri.

“I knew I could give more. The last year was a bad year, with the injury that took away my lucidity. At the time you know it’s difficult, but then, you’re grateful for those difficulties because they teach you to handle them differently, if they were to happen again. Last season was a lesson. Now I’m in Florence, I’m fine, everyone loves me and I love everyone.”

He also revealed that he places a lot of trust in religion and that has helped him get through tough times, making him the person that he is today.

“I got out of my difficulties thanks to faith. I devoted myself to prayer. It’s true that people sometimes see us only as people who wear a jersey and run around the field. But I’m a normal person, like everyone else, like those who watch me play on Sundays.

“I’m still me, Moise, the one who hangs out with friends, has fun with them and sometimes does the stupid things I used to do with them. I’ve never changed for anyone, I’m not afraid to hide or change the image I give of myself. If there’s something to joke about, I joke; if there’s something to argue about, I argue.

“After school, as a child, I went to the oratory to play football with the others. I would still do it now, after training, I would like to but I know I can’t, I’m not allowed. But it’s one of the things I miss the most.”

The striker also revealed that when he first arrived in Turin, his mother didn’t want to let him go due to school and studies but the move somehow happened.

“She didn’t want to let me go because she preferred me to study. The Juventus directors told her that in the boarding school where I was going to live I would also study. They struggled a bit, but in the end they managed to convince her.”

Speaking more about his life as a youngster, Kean said: “I was on the road a lot. Mom worked shifts at the hospital, sometimes she came back late at night and I was still out, going around the night soccer tournaments.

“I had a ten o’clock retreat, but I wanted to have fun and in front of my eyes I only had the ball. After all, I was a boy like all the others.”

The Fiorentina man refused to talk about his father, also stating that a huge burden was placed on his shoulders at a young age because of the family situation.

“I left to play football, and the responsibilities came from the fact that I was aware that my family’s future also depended on my future. My mother worked a lot, my brother was far away, and I had my family on my shoulders, as it still is today.”

He also revealed that he doesn’t live with his mother but he is trying to build a strong relationship with his son, because he himself lacked a father figure growing up.

“I have missed the father figure, so I try to build a solid relationship with my son and I try not to let him go without anything. It is important that he knows from now that I will always be there, to help him and give him advice.

“The world is cruel, so the closer a father is to his son, the better.”

Kean does come across as a very responsible and expressive person in the interview and while he has been questioned in the past, he is slowly proving doubters wrong. He has five goals and one assist in all competitions in the campaign.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN