David Odogu’s move from VfL Wolfsburg to AC Milan came as quite a surprise, especially since the Wolves had other plans for the talented player. The 19-year-old admits that he himself was surprised, but is also confident about his future with the Rossoneri.
“I wasn’t told anything directly over the summer, so it was a surprise for me. I got the call from my agent 24 hours before,“ David Odogu said, looking back on his transfer during his presentation in Milan, while also noting that he was by no means ‘shocked’ by the offer from the renowned Italian club. ”I’ve always believed in my qualities and I know what I’m capable of, otherwise I wouldn’t have joined a club like Milan.”
The 19-year-old, who won both the European and World Championships with the German U17 team, will certainly face strong competition at the Rossoneri. He will first have to get past experienced center backs such as Fikayo Tomori (27), Strahinja Pavlovic (24), and Matteo Gabbia (25). Odogu has set himself exactly that goal. “I want to become a starting player in this team,” the Berlin native announced confidently, despite his limited experience of just three Bundesliga appearances.
At the same time, however, he also emphasized that he wants to “learn, work hard and improve day by day.” “I’m a center back, I like to get into tackles, I want to keep a clean sheet and direct the defense. Obviously, I want to play aggressively and physically and have the mentality to want to win every game.”
Milan are investing a total of around ten million euros in the transfer – and will also leave a bitter taste in Wolfsburg. Odogu was actually considered a great hope at VfL, who could lead by example as a good example of the “Wolfsburg way” and make the leap from youth to the pros. He didn’t play more than three games for the Lower Saxony club, but at least VfL was well rewarded for it.
Gratitude for Rüdiger comparison
And the player gets the chance to prove himself at a club with an excellent reputation, where he will effectively take over from his compatriot Malick Thiaw, who the Italians have transferred to Newcastle United. However, Odogu is more often compared to Antonio Rüdiger of Real Madrid, whom he considers his role model. Consequently, he is also “very grateful” to be compared to the national team defender, “because I want to play with the same aggressive mentality.”
The defender is clear about what awaits him in Milan: “You know that there will be pressure at such a big club, expectations are high, but I use that as motivation. I will let my performances speak for themselves.“ Incidentally, he wants to deliver these performances regardless of the system; for him, ”it doesn’t matter” whether he plays in a back three or a back four. He is also certain that he will learn a lot from Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.