It was a Tuesday night in 2016 when Ryan Sessegnon introduced himself to the Fulham fans.
Slavisa Jokanovic started the 16-year-old at left-back for an EFL Cup match against then League Two side Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. Sessegnon impressed.
A week later and his name appeared on the teamsheet once again as Fulham travelled to Leeds. Captain Tom Cairney remembers thinking there had been a mistake. There hadn’t.
The teenager was the best player on the pitch that night, and it was from this very moment that he never looked back.
At the close of his first season he found himself named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year. At the close of his second he was Championship Player of the Season and Fulham were promoted to the Premier League.
As to be expected a host of Champions League clubs were queuing up to sign the youngster, who by this point was being compared to the likes of Gareth Bale. But by Sessegnon’s own admission there was only ever one thing he was going to.
"I was always going to stay [at Fulham]. I was always focused on staying and playing for Fulham," Sessegnon tells Mirror Football, speaking at the EA SPORTS FIFA 19 Ratings Awards.
"It’s the one club I know. I feel very comfortable at Fulham at the moment, and just minutes on the pitch. I just wanted to play."
An understanding that game-time is vitally important to his development at this early stage in his career – over the novelty of being on the books at a club like Manchester United – highlights the teenager’s maturity.
But he also has a unique tie to the south-west London club, which played a large part in his decision to stay.
Born in Roehampton, Sessegnon attended Coombe Boys’ School in New Malden, which practically shares its playing fields with Fulham’s Motspur Park training ground.
He’s been at the club since he was eight, alongside his brother Steven, and shares an emotional bond with everyone who nurtured him, believed in him and gave him a chance to shine. Top of the pile is Fulham boss, Jokanovic.
"We have a good relationship, I have been working with him since I was 16 so we have built a good relationship till now and he helps me a lot," Sessegnon continued.
"I think you can see that from my debut season till now, I think I’ve improved and that’s purely down to him and the faith and confidence he’s shown in me.
"The game time [he’s given me]. He believes in me and I repay him with good performances."
Jokanovic recently told the press that in the future he sees Sessegnon playing as a wing-back for a big team that constantly attacks – in the same vein as Kyle Walker or Benjamin Mendy.
It’s testament to the pair’s relationship, and Sessegnon’s trust in his boss, that he shares the Serbian’s view. Especially as the youngster, who has shown he’s adept at playing both left-back and left wing, has yet to play left wing-back for Fulham.
On his ideal position, he explained: "I think long term a left wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation. I think I have a lot of energy going forward with good recovery runs so in a three I’d affect the game more in that formation."
Sessegnon enjoys a strong bond with the Fulham fans, and while it’s common practise for players to clap their away support after matches, Sessegnon makes a point of it.
He regularly approaches fans closer than any of his team-mates, and he regularly taps the badge upon doing so. He explains: "I always show respect to the fans and for me it’s a bit more emotional because it’s a club I have been at since I was eight.
"You see the fans come week-in week-out and show support so whatever the result you always have to show love and respect to the fans."
The reaction from the Fulham fans is mutual, with chants of ‘he’s one of our own’ often being directed at the youngster whenever he acknowledges the supporters.
It goes without saying, Craven Cottage is the perfect place for him to continue his development at this moment in time, but that doesn’t mean to say Sessegnon isn’t eyeing major success in the future.
"[I want to] play for England to play in the Champions League, to play at major tournaments for my country," he explained, his eyes lighting up.
"[I want to] to play at World Cups, European championships, to win Premier Leagues – just as many trophies as I can." For Sessegnon, the sky really is the limit.
* Ryan Sessegnon was speaking at the launch of EA SPORTS FIFA 19. EA SPORTS FIFA 19 is out on September 28th on Playstation 4, Xbox One and all other platforms. To pre-order your copy, click here.
Will Ryan Sessegnon play for England?
7000+ VOTES SO FAR
Source: Read Full Article