✨ Read this awesome post from BBC Sport 📖
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At Milanello’s training base in Milan, pictures of club legends adorn the walls. After all, it was Paolo Maldini who called Tomori via Zoom before he joined and was instrumental in his moves.
“It’s crazy,” says Tomori. “You walk every day and see pictures of players like Maldini, (Franco) Baresi, Kaká, Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) and (Alessandro) Nesta.”
“So you definitely feel the anticipation knowing those players were in the same building.
“That comes from the fans you meet in the city. You realize how much weight the shirt carries.
“I love that they are so proud of the club and there is an expectation for us to deliver and do what they have done before.”
Tomori has fond memories of the summer after winning the Serie A in 2022, and of course there is an eye on next summer. Winning the Scudetto will certainly boost his chances of going to the World Cup with England.
“Of course, I want that for myself and I know that winning the league will help me,” he says.
Tomori was born in Canada and played for the Under-19s, and recently revealed he had never been asked to think about Nigeria, the homeland of his parents.
He made his debut for England in 2019 and won five caps under Gareth Southgate, but although it has been two-and-a-half years since his last international call-up, current England manager Thomas Tuchel is still in touch.
When Tomori left Chelsea for Milan initially on loan in 2021, Tuchel became Chelsea manager four days later.
“I spoke to him after the last international break in November,” says Tomori. “We spoke a few times and the message is to keep doing what I’m doing.”
“We are six months away from the World Cup and there is a lot of football to be played.
“I know he’s watching and watching because he called up (teammate) Ruben Loftus-Cheek. That gives me the confidence that I can make it happen.”
“He came to Milan last season and I know he gets our data and watches our clips regularly as well.
“The way he talked about it is that it’s difficult because there are a lot of players in that position, and I understand that because you have players like John Stones, Mark Guehi, Dan Byrne and Ezri Konsa.
But the World Cup is still a dream and I am working to achieve it.”
Fulfilling that dream and the possibility is that his neighbor will be waiting in Dallas when England face Croatia in their first World Cup match.
Luka Modric, who joined Milan in the summer, lives in the same apartment complex as Tomori.
“I guess the building isn’t too shabby,” Tomori joked.
Did he pick the brain of the former Ballon d’Or winner?
“Yes, but it’s more about listening when he talks and seeing the way he trains. You only know the levels, and because it’s Modric, when he talks you just listen to him.”
All this listening will certainly be beneficial for both Tomori and England if he makes it to the World Cup.
💬 What do you think?
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