Tammy Abraham has admitted it was difficult for him to leave Chelsea last summer, but he has no regrets over his move to Roma.
The 24-year-old left the Blues in 2021 after two seasons in the senior side, having previously spent time on loan at various clubs after graduating from the academy at Cobham.
Abraham was promoted to the first team by Frank Lampard in 2019 and scored a total of 30 goals in all competitions for his boyhood club, as well as being able to lift Champions League.
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He then made a permanent switch to Roma in Serie A last summer, and has been hugely successful for them ever since he completed his transfer.
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho currently leads the side, who won the Conference League last season.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Abraham revealed his thoughts about his departure from Chelsea for the Italian top flight.
“If you'd told me a couple of years ago I'd be playing in Italy, I wouldn't have believed you.
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“Leaving Chelsea was difficult, it's where I'd grown up from the age of seven.
“I didn't know much about Italian football but it has helped me develop as a player and as a man.
“I've come out of my comfort zone and don't have any regrets.
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“I love the life and it's brought out another side to my game.
“At Chelsea, I was viewed purely as a goalscorer. Here, I've learned different aspects of the game. If our opponents have more of the ball, I know how to position myself defensively.
“You have to be more clinical finishing chances because they can be limited.”
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Abraham is now in his second season in Serie A, having played two campaigns in the Premier League.
He made a comparison between two leagues together, adding: “They both have qualities that the other one doesn't. Italian football is very tactical. Teams want to stop you from scoring as much as possible.
“I think they mainly focus on stopping goals which does make it harder for a striker of course.
“One thing I had to learn quickly was how to win free-kicks. Holding the ball up when your team might need a breather, getting the cheap fouls as we would call them in England. Little things like that, I've added.”
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Since his arrival at the club, Abraham has scored 29 times in 60 matches across all competitions, adding six assists to his name during that time too.
Topics: Tammy Abraham, Chelsea, AS Roma
Robert Calcutt