Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada has opened up about his time at Lazio and his decision to join Crystal Palace in a recent interview on his YouTube channel. The player revealed some behind-the-scenes details about his departure from the Italian club and his reasons for choosing the Premier League side.
Kamada explained that his move to Crystal Palace was influenced by earlier contact with the club: “I chose Crystal Palace because they had already contacted me in winter, as I wasn’t playing much when Maurizio Sarri was at Lazio. Many teams were interested in me, and I spoke with the president about leaving, but he told me no, that he wouldn’t let me go.”
The midfielder went on to discuss the role Crystal Palace’s manager played in his decision: “While I was thinking about what to do, Oliver Glasner sent me a message saying he wanted me as a summer signing. We started talking, but many clubs were after me, and I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t playing much at the beginning, then things changed. We continued talking with everyone, and in the end, I was undecided whether to stay at Lazio or go to Crystal Palace.”
Kamada revealed that his childhood dream played a significant part in his final decision: “Since I was young, I’ve always told myself that my dream was to play in the Premier League one day. I talked a lot with Oliver Glasner, and I think he’s a great coach. He wanted me at all costs, even when I was thinking about staying at Lazio. In the end, he won me over.”
The Japanese international also expressed his enthusiasm for his new team: “I’ve been following Palace since Glasner arrived; I’ve watched all their games. We have a physical team, with an important coach who gives importance to both the defensive and offensive aspects. We have talented players, and we can do well.”
