Fabian: ‘Ancelotti’s son recommended me’

By Football Italia staff

Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz reveals Davide Ancelotti advised the club to sign him, and discusses “peculiar” Neapolitan driving.

The Spaniard joined the Partenopei from Real Betis in the summer, and he discussed his new life in Italy with Radio Onda Cero. “I’m losing my accent, I have to go back to Andalusia more often!” Fabian joked.

“At the start I suffered an injury which held me back for three weeks and then it wasn’t easy to break into the team, my teammates were doing very well. I’m better now and I’m happy.

“It’s going really well with Carlo Ancelotti, he’s a great Coach. He’s calm, and close to the players. “He rarely gets angry, but on the pitch I’m often close to his technical area and when he does… it's dangerous!

“Did his son recommend me? It’s true, Davide was engaged to a girl from Seville who he met in Madrid, and when he visited her he’d go to watch Betis and Sevilla matches.

“He saw me play on those occasions. When I met his fiancée, I thanked her.

“It’s a more direct and quicker style of football here, but now that I’m playing regularly I feel good. The players are strong, the quality is very similar and in the end there is not a huge difference.

“I’m learning the language little-by-little, it’s not as hard as it seems at the start.”

Naples is known for being something of a chaotic city, not least when it comes to driving…

“My mum doesn’t want me to [drive], she’s scared! Sooner or later you get used to the Neapolitan style of driving which is… peculiar. I gave my car to my brother, I rented one here.

“I live in an area by the sea, very quiet. All the players live here and I was recommended it by the club.

“I've already visited Capri, it's fantastic. I live alone, but there's always someone to visit me.

“I’m also learning to cook, the fish here is delicious.”

The Partenopei are second in Serie A, but the fans crave the Scudetto.

"Rather than a pressure, it's a privilege to fight for first place," Fabian insisted.

"We want to try and win the Scudetto: last year the lads went very close. Juventus have a great squad, so it'll be tough, but we'll try to be in the race right to the end."

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