Kelly: My agent asked me if I wanted to go to Juventus and it took me ten seconds to react

Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly accepted a long exclusive interview with the "Small Podcast" program. The centre-back talked about a lot of topics in the interview, telling his story from his move to Italy, to nicknames in the dressing room, to his childhood and his hair style.

Explaining the origin of the nickname "Cassius"

First of all, Kelly talked about his nickname "Cassius", which many teammates also called him in the locker room: "One in particular was Vlahovich. One day he asked me if I had a middle name, and I told him, and he started calling me that all the time. It just became 'Cassius'. Which one do I like better? I think it's Lloyd, because that's the name I hear the most, but Cassius has no name. It sounds more unique. Sometimes they also call me 'Lloydy', which is a nickname. But most people call me Royd. "

I've given very few interviews in my career

"I can count them on one hand, but it's always good to have the opportunity to tell your story and show a different side of life. People only know you as a football player, so it's nice to have something else to talk about. "

Nightclub or music festival?

A few days ago, the Bianconeri defender celebrated his birthday, blowing out 27 candles: "I was asked if I feel older, but to be honest, I feel quite young. Even though the years are flying by, I try to stay like this for as long as possible. How did I celebrate? I was quiet. We went home and I spent time with my family and friends. We were in the city of Turin I'm not a big party person. No nightclubs, music festivals or fancy dinners. I'm happy to relax but not overdo it. Am I a frugal person? (laughs). "

Another interesting thing about him. Type

"Do I often go to the barber shop? About once every ten days. Sometimes if the schedule is intensive, once a week. But not that often anymore. On the one hand, I like to keep clean and take care of myself. On the other hand, there are also aesthetic, style, and fashion factors. There are too many hairstyles, styles, and colors, and this is also a way to express myself. Do I always have this hairstyle? No, not at all Yes. There was a time when I had platinum blonde hair. That was when I was younger, for about two years. Then I decided it was time to change it and mature a little bit and stop dyeing it. I think my hair is a part of who I am, and it's always been a part of my identity. Who comes to mind first?

"Of course, Beckham is an iconic figure. Every time he changes his hairstyle it makes news. He is one of those people who really marks an era in terms of style as well. Is there anyone who inspired my hairstyle? Yes, the first time I showed a picture of Kingsley Coman. I wanted a hairstyle like his. Then I tweaked it a little bit, but Yeah, I would say it all started there. "

"It's a balanced relationship: you can share important things, connect with people, inspire others. What kind of message do I try to use, especially to young people? With discipline and clear dreams, you can get anywhere you want. I use them to demonstrate this. Not just football, but personal journey. It's a way of telling people 'you can do it'. Sometimes even being adventurous with your styling can make a difference. cultural, social. And something can be passed on. "

Relationship with Football in Childhood

"What I remember is that after school, primary school, I would go home, change my clothes and go out immediately. Go to the park, yes, go to the park and play football. That was before I joined Bristol City’s academy. I'm always hanging out with my friends and we love football. Like you said, it's something I love to do. Of course, I was too young to think about it at the time One day I can make a living from it. It’s always been what I wanted to do, that’s all. "

Childhood Difficulties and Experiences in Foster Homes

"How old was I when it started? I think six or seven years old. Me, my sister, and my brother entered the foster care system and we stayed in the foster care system until we reached adulthood, which was 18 years old. During that period, which lasted eleven years, we moved three times and were in three different foster homes. "

About the move to Juventus

"I didn't expect it, because at that time, even though I didn't play much playing time at Newcastle, I was still one of the older players in the team and felt important. My agent called me and he just Q: 'Do you want to transfer to Juventus? 'It took me ten seconds to understand what he meant, and then I answered 'yes '. Let's go. Even if the door is only ajar, I say: 'Let's push it open'. Fortunately, it happens. "

Racism in Football

"I can’t say there hasn’t been any progress in preventing or eradicating racism in football, but I will say there is still a long way to go. Technically speaking, it's hard to control something you can't control. There are efforts being made in a direction where we can now start to see accountability for those who commit racist or discriminatory behavior among fans and players, but I would say there is still a lot of work to be done. "