Kingsley Michael is in contention to make his senior debut for Nigeria this month in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the midfielder has Bologna manager Sinisa Mihajlovic to thank.
Michael who represented Nigeria at the junior levels through the U17, U20 and U23 was named in the 30-man squad for the games against Liberia and Cape Verde.
This season, the Midfielder has made 1 league appearance for Bologna, his first Serie A game since signing for the club in 2018.
He credited Mihajlovic for the confidence to play at that very high level and desire to keep improving.
“Sinisa Mihajlovic, I meet him two years ago when I came back from my loan at Perugia, he has been a great coach he likes me a lot. I went on loan to Cremonese for me to have playing time, unfortunately I got injured.
“But He gave me the chance in pre-season to play against Dortmund and Liverpool. He told me that this season I’d be staying. I really like him, He pushes me a lot.
“Right now I’m still young, I’m just 22. I think I’ll meet up with the standard I want to attain. To play in the Serie A is not easy, but I give God the glory, I’ve been there for four year and everything has been going well.”
Michael’s first team involvement in pre-season availed him the chance to observe Japan poster boy Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has joined Premier League side Arsenal.
“For my teammate, Tomiyasu, who’d be joining Arsenal, he is a very good player. He uses both feet, a Central defender and a right-back, I think Arsenal have got a good one.”
On his own personal style and preferred position, the former Nigerian youth player revealed he continues to pick up tips from national teammates Peter Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi, both of whom play in the PL.
“I’ve always liked Etebo (Peter) and Wilfred (Ndidi) I like the both of them, I enjoy them playing and we play same role, so, I’m here to also learn from them now.
“I play as an attacking midfielder, but in Bologna, I play as a defensive midfielder. For now I play as a DMF and though I don’t look it, but, I am very aggressive.”
