Ebenezer Akinsamiro made his debut for Italian Serie B side Sampdoria over the weekend as they begin the quest to gain promotion back to the Italian Serie A following relegation two seasons ago, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Sampdoria were relegated from Serie A for the first time in over a decade following a 2-0 defeat at Udinese in May 2023 with four games left to play, their aim to make an immediate return to the top flight was unsuccessful last season.
Now under the tutelage of legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Prilo, they started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Frosinone on Sunday, despite playing with a man down for the final eight minutes of the game, following the sending off of Nicholas Ioannou.
19 year old Nigerian midfielder Akinsamiro who joined the team on loan from league champions Inter Milan lasted 84 minutes in what was the first start of his professional career.
He put up a performance which drew him praises and knocks from Pirlo , a legendary midfielder in world football who was rated among the best in his role during his playing days. ” The team as a whole did what it was supposed to do, uncertainties are part of the game and we have to limit them”, he said after the game.
” Akinsanmiro has qualities, but sometimes he likes to hold the ball too much and you have to file this detail. If you hold the ball too much with structure players in Serie B, you can’t afford it”, the coach concluded.
