Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Following
a frustrating season at Juventus and reported interest from both
Arsenal and OL, Mario Lemina says that he would prefer a move to the
Premier League.
Lemina, a member of the Italy squad that won the U-20 World Cup in 2013, has found his first season in the Serie A a frustrating affair, with chances sparse in a midfield overflowing with quality,
The 23-year old who signed for Max Allegri's Champions League finalists at the start of the 2016/17 campaign, made only 19 Serie A appearances - 11 of them as a substitute - since his move from Olympique Marseille.
Speaking to RAC1 about his lack of first-team action and whether he would consider a move to one of the two clubs who have reportedly shown interest in him, Lemina made it clear that old allegiances will make a move back to France difficult.
"My objective is to move up the ladder - if I have to leave Juve I’d like an experience with a club abroad," Lemina said.
"Would I go to Lyon? Quite frankly I don’t think OL would interest me. I’m 100 per cent Marseillais. Given the rivalry between Marseille and Lyon, that wouldn’t be the kind of project which would interest me.
"Going back to Marseille? On a personal level, I don’t think that would be the right move.
"Arsenal? Of course those links flatter me, but personally, I’ve never doubted my qualities. I’m at a very big club now but I haven’t been able to show my qualities at that level, so it’s flattering that big clubs are showing up."
