Japan international defender Takehiro Tomiyasu insists he wants to “prove I belong in the starting XI” on the first day of Bologna’s season.
He made the transfer from Belgian club Sint-Truiden for €7m earlier this month and arrived today to meet his new teammates.
“I want to prove I belong in the starting XI on opening day,” Tomiyasu told Japan Times.
“I aim to improve my defensive skills. Going up against top-class strikers will help my development. I want to be a player who can marshal the team from the back. Even if I hit a wall, I don’t want to quit.”
The 20-year-old centre-back has 15 senior caps for Japan and has been in Europe since January 2018.
He was even given a hazing ritual in his first training session, asked to dance with his new teammates.