Brooke Norton-Cuffy says working beneath Patrick Vieira at Genoa has been “a dream come true,” crediting the previous Arsenal captain for remodeling his recreation and confidence in Italy.
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The 21-year-old left Hale Finish in 2024 after a decade with Arsenal, opting to check himself overseas fairly than settle for provides from Premier League golf equipment.
After an injury-hit begin to life in Serie A, Norton-Cuffy has develop into a fixture in Vieira’s aspect and one in all Genoa’s most constant performers.
“He was an incredible participant, he’s an incredible supervisor now and he’s helped me loads since he’s are available,” Norton-Cuffy instructed . “The target is to get as excessive as potential. First we have to hit the 40-point mark, be sure we’re secure, after which look from there, however I believe this group is able to doing a little superb issues.”
Norton-Cuffy’s kind has justified his daring resolution to depart England. His defensive positioning and technical means have improved markedly beneath Vieira, whereas his attacking runs down the appropriate have made him a fan favorite at Italy’s oldest membership.
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Stories in La Gazzetta dello Sport counsel his worth has already climbed previous €10 million, with a number of European sides monitoring his progress.
Vieira, who took cost at Genoa final November, has been credited with refining Norton-Cuffy’s tactical understanding and composure in possession. The best-back’s rise has additionally caught the eye of Lee Carsley, who included him in England’s victorious Beneath-21 European Championship marketing campaign this summer season.
Norton-Cuffy has now began each Serie A match since April and says the affect of each Vieira and his Arsenal schooling stays central to his growth. “At Arsenal, you’re going there and also you’re studying to be higher every single day. When you’re not studying about soccer, you’re studying about the right way to prepare dinner,” he mentioned. “They helped me mature into a person, on the pitch and off the pitch.”
Photograph through Norton-Cuffy on Instagram
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Genoa’s sluggish begin to the season hasn’t dampened his optimism, and neither has the hypothesis round his future. For now, the main focus stays on enhancing beneath Vieira’s steerage. “I wished to return right here, play and expertise a brand new model of soccer, a brand new tradition,” Norton-Cuffy mentioned.
“The Italian league is thought for its defensive skills, construction, and magnificence of play. So I mentioned, ‘Let me come and enhance on my defensive aspect of the sport, but additionally present what I can do going ahead.’”
If he continues on this trajectory, Arsenal’s former academy prospect could but discover his identify talked about alongside a few of Serie A’s most interesting full-backs and Vieira, as soon as once more, could have had a hand in shaping one other Arsenal success story.