Italy Full-back in the Making Adam Masina Speaks with WhoScored

Bologna have experienced a few ups and downs this season, which is understandable when considering the 2015/16 campaign was their first back in Serie A after one year of purgatory in Serie B. Nevertheless. there was plenty of cause for optimism, such as the development of a few very promising young players: some of the biggest Italian and European clubs have reportedly set their sights on Godfred Donsah, Amadou Diawara and Adam Masina, who have all enjoyed a terrific season.

Bologna’s left-back, a product of the Rossoblu academy and rightly proud wearer of the shirt, received his top-flight consecration this season and is now a pillar of Roberto Donadoni’s side. He could yet be a staple of the side for many years to come, at least this is what the Moroccan born defender is hoping. Here he speaks exclusively with WhoScored.com. 

You are currently Bologna’s highest rated player according to WhoScored.com. How pleased have you been to become such a key player for the club so quickly?

Well, I like the idea of contributing to the team: I am happy about this and I am proud to play for my hometown club. There are some real champions in our squad; thanks to their experience I can learn something new every day. I am obviously thinking of our veterans. I feel like I am part of the squad, I don’t know if I am important or not: we all are and each one of us has given his all to reach our goal. 

Last season you were voted as Serie B Footballer of the Year. How have you assessed your progression to top-flight football and what do you feel is the biggest difference between the leagues?

There is a big difference in terms of quality between Serie A and Serie B. The intensity is similar, but you cannot make any mistake in Serie A: every single one is punished with a goal. This is the main difference between the two leagues. As far as I am concerned, I have been working hard on several aspects of my game. I am happy about it and I think I have developed as a player. I do know there is still room for improvement, but through dedication and hard work I hope to reach a satisfactory level soon.

You currently have no significant statistical weaknesses, while your greatest strengths include aerial duels and ball interception. But you are still very young: what areas of your game do you feel you need to improve upon?

I can give you an example. As far as heading unopposed is concerned, I can jump well and be dangerous, but I certainly need to improve my attitude when it comes to direct aerial duels. Daniele Gastaldello is great in those situations: if he takes the right position it’s extremely difficult for a striker to get past him or anticipate him. I hope to improve soon, I am working on it already.

After Roberto Donadoni had such an immediate impact upon results, do you feel that the team has perhaps been a little complacent since securing survival?

We have gone through a difficult period, that is true, but that was strange. None of us put less effort into the game, but we lacked that extra bit of intensity which is absolutely necessary at this level. If we take to the pitch with it, we can cause problems for anybody, but as soon as that is missing, you can see the difference in terms of results.   

Having started your career as a striker what skills do you feel you possess that made your transition to full-back possible?

I have always had trouble against a specific kind of defenders, those who try and anticipate you all the time. I try to remember this, include it into my game and upset my opponents with it. I am always dealing with great strikers, they are unpredictable and it’s always difficult to succeed, but I try to anticipate what they might do. This is very helpful for me. As a former striker I also see opportunities in terms of passing the ball, even when there is little space up front.

Where do you feel that statistics and analysis is most useful in football and do you keep track of your own individual figures?

Yes, for sure. I am quite mathematical when it comes to analysing my performances, although you always have to weigh up all the figures. If you do 50 successful passes, but you do 100 unsuccessful ones, there must be something wrong. It's the same if you pass the ball backwards 100 times. 

I have been specifically working on these things with a member of the staff of our former manager Delio Rossi: by means of a specific application he would show you the direction of your passes and who you would play the ball to. I have noticed I choose to play the ball backwards too often, and I have tried to improve on that. Sometimes it’s good to keep possession and avoid risks, but you also have to push forward. 

Who are the players, past or present, that you admire in the game and aspire to be like as a full-back?

I really like Bruno Peres from Torino, who is one of the best full-backs in Serie A. But Maicon is the player I admire most and who has been an inspiration for me. I sometimes watch old games of his and he really impresses me every time. 

Who is the best opponent you have faced this season and why?

I will stick with Bruno Peres. He is quality and I had a really hard time against him this year. He is technically skilled and very fast: what a great player he is.

You have established yourself as an important Serie A player this year, but are there any other leagues where you would hope to play in the future and any that you feel may better suit your style of play?

One day I would like to play in England, although I know I will have to develop a lot to keep up with Premier League football. The pace is amazing: English defenders might not be tactically as smart as Italian ones, but they are overwhelming from a physical point of view. I was talking about it with my teammate Emanuele Giaccherini. He was saying that English full-backs are real animals and that he really used to suffer a lot against them during his time at Sunderland.

Having represented Italy at under-21 level do you feel you have any hopes of a potential senior call-up in time for the Euros?

In football you never know, so until the official Italy squad for UEFA EURO 2016 is announced I will try my best. We will see what happens. 

Do you feel that you would ever opt to play for Morocco if the opportunity didn’t arise with Italy?

Emissaries of Morocco have already been in touch with me a few times, but I have always declined their offers. I say it with great humbleness though: I have grown up here and I feel 100% Italian. I have always lived in Bologna and I have only spent three months in Morocco, so that is not an option for me. 

Humbleness and intelligence: this is what immediately struck us during our enjoyable conversation. If you add to that the physical qualities he has been blessed with, which he has also worked upon with great dedication and desire, we can all be sure of one thing: while Adam Masina is already a quality player, given his young age there is massive room for improvement. His development path is still bound to be very long and full of satisfaction, for both the player and his ambitious hometown club.