Ibrahim Amadou is fulfilling his lifelong dream by competing in the Premier League for Norwich City, stating it was the strength of the Canaries project that attracted him to the club.
Amadou joined the Canaries from Spanish giants Sevilla on a loan deal in August, with an option to make his Norfolk stay a permanent one next summer, for a reported fee of £9million.
The City loanee has lifted the lid on his Sevilla departure, admitting that ex-Spain boss Julen Lopetegui wanted him to leave the club after a drastic reshuffle of the first-team group.
"I knew that the coach did not count on me and that I had to find a way out," Amadou said. "But I am a professional player and I gave the maximum in training. Things were clear since the coach arrived, but I kept working, always giving a hundred percent.
"I think I could have been a part of Sevilla, but the coach and sporting director decided to change many things and I have to respect that."
The midfielder believes that dislocating his elbow in September 2018, keeping him out of action for almost two months, altered his career in La Liga and was a decisive factor in deciding his fate at the club.
"The injury did not come at the best time. When I returned, the team worked well." Amadou told Estadio Deportivo, "I had a good pre-season, so I think that without this injury, my season would have been very different. I think that with more minutes I would have could have been better. But without continuity it is difficult to show my true level."
Despite being a defensive midfielder by trade, he has been deployed as a central defender due to the depleted nature of City's squad at present, with head coach Daniel Farke having to produce a makeshift back four due to an abundance of defensive injuries.
He has started the Canaries' last three games at centre-back, including that historic victory against champions Manchester City.
"Here, I play as a central defender ever since I arrived," the former Lille man explained. "I prefer to play as a midfielder, but if I have to play in central defence to help the team, I will do as I did with Sevilla.
"The Premier League is very competitive and very different from the Spanish league. But I like it a lot too."
As well as fulfilling his childhood ambitions of playing in England's top flight, it was the strength of the Canaries project that convinced Amadou to sign.
"I liked the club project; it is a very young team that plays with a lot of quality," he added. "As a child, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. I'm glad to be part of this league. In Norwich, my goal is to play the biggest amount of minutes possible and help the team achieve its goal that is to stay in the Premier League."
His loan deal at Carrow Road does contain an option to sign permanently, but Amadou says he needs to feel trusted before committing to a long-term contract, concluding: "In both cases, I will be happy, but only if the club I'm with trusts me."
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