“It was a good learning curve” – Ola Aina speaks on moving from Chelsea to Torino

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest full-back, Olaoluwa Temitayo Aina, has revealed his move away from Chelsea to Torino was a step in the right direction, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old defender graduated from the famous Chelsea Cobham academy and was a part of their EPL winning squad in 2017 under Antonio Conte before heading out on loan to Hull City the following season.

Upon his return from Hull City, he joined Serie A side, Torino, on loan, before the move became a permanent one the next summer.

Speaking about leaving the shores of his comfort zone to playing abroad, Aina revealed the move to Italy made him a better footballer.

“For me, going to Italy was a good learning curve. Obviously, they’re known for being defensive and housing tactical players, so I sort of improved on that side of the game and I can see that in myself now when I play.

It was also good to get out of my comfort zone, and Italy was a place I’d always wanted to see and visit on holidays. So, going there to live was good as well,” the Nottingham Forest full-back said in an interview with the Counter Attack Podcast.

Aina’s contract with Torino expired in the summer of 2023 and he returned to England to sign for Nottingham Forest, joining two Nigerian players at the club in Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Denis, but the wing-back is the one who is a regular for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.