Curtis Jones has revealed that Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu was a major factor in his decision to leave Liverpool this summer. The 25-year-old midfielder, who came through the Reds' academy, completed a £30m move to the Serie A side after 16 years at Anfield, having first joined the club at the age of nine.
Chivu's influence on Jones's move
Explaining his departure from his boyhood club, Jones highlighted the role Chivu played in convincing him to make the switch. "There's a reason I came here: the phone calls we had, how the team plays, his tactical ideas, and how he works every single day," he said.
"It's the small things he says, things that might seem minor but end up having a massive impact. Plus, he has immense experience and played at the highest level himself. He's managed the squad brilliantly. He's 'one of us,' and to me, that's fundamental."
Settling in at Inter
Jones added: "I just feel at home with the lads. Since the first day, they've been unbelievable and so I can just be myself. Of course I've got a point to prove but I know that if I'm just myself, the lads will like me, the staff and the fans as well."
During his time at Liverpool, Jones made 228 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals. He has made a promising start with his new club, featuring as a substitute in a narrow win over Cagliari and coming on at half-time as Inter came from 2-0 down to beat Napoli, leaving them second in the early Serie A standings.
A different style of football
Reflecting on the victory over Napoli, Jones said: "Some people say Serie A is boring and the Premier League isn't, but you didn't see that today. There are great coaches here and so much tactics. Today was a beautiful match with plenty of chances, and the coach made several tactical adjustments that helped us win. Italian teams never surrender, it was a real spectacle."
Jones will be back in action in midweek as Inter begin their Champions League campaign against Real Madrid. Liverpool, meanwhile, face Atletico Madrid at Anfield in their European opener. Jones was not the only high-profile departure from Liverpool this summer, with Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson leaving on free transfers, and Harvey Elliott joining Valencia on loan for the season.
