First Interview: Maitland-Niles raring to go in Rome

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a Roma player.

The England international completed his loan move to the Giallorossi on Saturday, as he strengthens Jose Mourinho's ranks ahead of the second half of the 2021-22 season.

Before the 24-year-old joined up with his new teammates for his first training session at Trigoria, we caught up with him to get his thoughts on his new surroundings, the teammates he will be joining up with, and much more...

First and foremost, welcome to AS Roma! How does it feel to have finally completed the move?

“It is just great to be here. It’s been a really warm welcome from everyone and I just can’t wait to crack on and get started.”

For those Roma fans who perhaps haven’t had a chance to watch you too much, how would you describe yourself as a player?

“Very calm, very chilled but I’ve got a tenacity about me too. I can get up and down the pitch, a lot of legs, and technical ability [as well]. I’ve got the eye for a pass too … so, yeah, a bit of everything really.”

You’ve played a number of positions in your career. Do you think that versatility, beyond underlining the qualities you have as an all-round player, is perhaps your biggest strength?

“It could be a big advantage for me. Playing multiple positions, sometimes in the same game, for any manager, but also one like the one we have here is a bonus. Maybe that is why I am here. I am just happy to be here and ready to play for the team wherever I may be needed.”

There’s a good chance your first involvement with the team could be in a pretty big game: at home against Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico. How exciting is that prospect for you?

“It’s one of the best feelings, you know. I’ve come here to make a statement and show people how good I am - and what a game to potentially come into to do it. So the platform is there, it’s just about how I perform.”

This is not the first loan of your career – would you say those previous experiences of coming into a club and having to adjust quite quickly will stand you in good stead here?

“Yeah, of course. It is good to have that sort of experience before. It wasn’t quite the same, in terms of the clubs that I went to, because Roma is obviously a lot bigger and an amazing club. The coverage here is a lot bigger than it was back at those other clubs but I am happy for the challenge and really happy to be here.”

You become the third English player in the squad here, with Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham. How much of a factor was their presence in your decision to come here – and have you had a chance to speak to either of them?

“I spoke to Tammy, Tammy’s a great guy. I don’t know Chris like that but I am sure I will get to know him better now that I am here. Tammy told me what a great club it is and he wanted me to come so much, so we spoke back and forth about it.

"I decided to come here for myself, for my career and for my future – and to help the team too. So I am here now and I am ready to get to work.”

You also now get the chance to work with a manager, Jose Mourinho, that I’m sure you know very well. What sort of a factor was his presence on your decision and how exciting is it to get to work with him?

“It’s very big. He’s one of the best managers in the world – if not the best. He’s won numerous titles and he’s just a great person. He speaks the truth, he’s a happy person and he wants to win. And that’s what football is about: winning. So to be working under a manager like that; you can’t really ask for any more than that as a player.”

Have you had the chance to speak to him at all?

“Yeah, he came to dinner last night [with me]. We were speaking about the plans going forward and what he wants from me and what he expects. It was a good conversation.”

What about the prospect of playing in Serie A? Have you watched much of it recently and how aware of you of the sort of challenges you will now be coming up against?

“I have been watching it recently. There have been a lot of fast tempo games and there are a lot of aggressive teams in the league. I think I am suited for this type of football, you know. Coming from the Premier League, I don’t think Serie A is so different. I just want to be out there on the pitch, take it all in, and play well.”

What about the fans? You have probably already had a little taste of what the Roma fans are like on social media…

“Yeah, it’s been good to be honest. The fans are a lot different to what I am used to but they have been showing me amazing support from even before the deal was officially announced. And that has continued during the process and now after it as well. So it’s amazing and it should be a great journey with them.”

For you personally, what are your targets here?

“I am aiming to become the best player I can be by playing regularly. I want to express myself and show the world how good I am – but not just the world, also the club I am at and the manager I am with. I want to show that I am a great player.”

Finally, is there a particular message you want to send to the Roma fans?

“Yeah, I just want to thank them for sticking with me and for the welcome they have given me. This is just the beginning, and I hope we can go on to do something great by the end of the season."