The 22-year-old is considered as one of his country’s brightest talents and he speaks to Goal about his summer transfer to Serie A and his clothing line.
New Sampdoria signing Dennis Praet is enjoying his Italian adventure following his summer move from Anderlecht and is also hoping to further expand his clothing brand off the pitch.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is considered one of Belgium’s most promising young talents and was recently snapped up by Samp for €10 million following five impressive seasons at Anderlecht.
Ahead of this weekend’s Serie A trip to the Stadio Olimpico to play Roma, Praet sat down for an exclusive interview with Goal.
Q: You have just started a new adventure in Italy with Sampdoria. What are your first impressions about the club, president Massimo Ferrero and the city?
A: My first impressions are very good. I met the president in Rome during my medical. He is very professional and funny. He gave me a warm welcome and my team-mates are helping me out, particularly with the language as I am still learning Italian. The city of Genova is very beautiful and I have already visited a few places. I like the sea, so it is perfect for me.
Q: Do you already understand just how much the Derby della Lanterna against Genoa means to fans?
A: I have heard a lot about it already, especially from Stefano Okaka [former team-mate at Anderlecht], Sebastian De Maio and Diego Capel. It is a very nice derby and despite being intense, it is not about fighting, but about defending your club. I am curious to see how my first derby against Genoa will go.
Q: Speaking about Stefano Okaka, did you talk with him prior to moving to Samp?
A: Yes, I spoke to him a lot. He had only positive comments about the city, the quality of life and the club. His words automatically helped me to take this decision and to join a team and league with such a rich history.
Q: This weekend Sampdoria play Roma. What are you expecting?
A: It will be nice. I have already played in some big games with Anderlecht, especially in the Champions League where I once faced Milan. I am curious to play in the Stadio Olimpico, as it will be the first time.
Q: What were your thoughts about the Belgium national side during Euro 2016?
A: The people expected more from the team, but it is not always easy, especially when you face a side like Italy who were very prepared tactically. We have a lot of talented players at the moment, so we will see what new coach Roberto Martinez brings. I have not yet met Martinez or his assistant Thierry Henry but expect to do so in the near future.
Q: What is the secret to Belgium producing so many young talents such as yourself?
A: The Belgian FA and the academies work very well together and they receive a lot of cooperation from schools, which is beneficial to us. The Under 21 side, which I am part of, is very rich with talent, too.
Q: What differences have you noticed between Belgian and Italian football?
A: In pre-season, I immediately realised that Italians work more on tactics. We would go to the video room after every session to analyse the tactics we plan to use in Serie A.
Q: Besides being a professional footballer, you have also created a clothing brand. How do you juggle football and fashion, and how did your passion for the latter begin?
A: Naturally, football is my priority, but it helps to have other passions besides football. I really like fashion and initially I initiated this idea with two friends just for fun, in order to try something out. Suddenly, it got serious and currently our brand – DYJ Code – is sold in around 60 shops in Belgium. Hopefully we can get bigger.
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