Milan v Tottenham: Tomori draws inspiration from Drogba and Henry for Champions League | Champions League

He was born in Canada, is the son of Nigerians, plays for the England national team and now shines in Italy. Defender Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola is one of the weapons of Milan to face Tottenham on Tuesday, in a Champions League round of 16 game. Didn’t recognize the name? To make it easier, Tomori made his last name more popular. And now he is inspired by great idols in the return of the Italian giant to the knockout stage of the tournament (watch the special interview with One Football below).

Tomori grew up in London, is a Chelsea child and is inspired by two great Tottenham executioners for his career and this Tuesday’s match: Drogba and Henry. Even as a defender, the 25-year-old player speaks with joy about the memory he has of the former Blues and Arsenal strikers.

‘I remember the first time my dad and I went to a Chelsea game. He was nine or 10 years old. And we saw Drogba. And he passed us when he was warming up. I remember my dad and I looked at each other and said, ‘Wow, it’s Drogba. We see it on the TV screen, and now we can see it in 3D’ – said Tomori, One Football.

Now a centre-back, Tomori ventured forward when he was younger just to emulate Henry’s celebrations.

“Thierry Henry was my idol. When I was playing on my amateur team on Sundays, I used to wear gloves and pull my socks up above my knees. If Thierry scored a goal on Saturday, for example, I saw the celebration and did the same – said the defender.

In his third season at Milan, Tomori helped the team return to the Champions League knockout stage after eight years. Italian champion last season, the defender understands that the Italian giant has a different relationship with the continental tournament.

— You play league games, you play domestic cups, but when the Champions League arrives, that’s different. The lights get brighter. And now at the San Siro it’s heard at the last minute when they say “The Champiooons”. And then the whole stadium sings in unison. It gives you goosebumps,” he told OneFootball.

Since 2020 at Milan, the athlete has accumulated 86 matches and three goals scored for the club that is in contention for the Champions League. Of the three goals, one was special: against Liverpool, in the Champions League.