The forward says he turned down multiple other options to instead move to the City Ground, and wants to be the next Burke.
New Nottingham Forest signing Nicolao Dumitru has told the club’s official Twitter account that he turned down multiple other offers to instead join the club, and is aspiring to step into Oliver Burke’s shoes as a key star.
Dumitru joined Forest on a season-long loan from Napoli during this summer’s transfer window, and could be set to make his debut on Saturday as the club travel to Aston Villa.
Forest’s summer transfer window was a mixed one, but the most headline-grabbing piece of business was teenage star Burke’s surprise £13 million move to newly-promoted Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Burke had become a star at the City Ground over the previous 12 months, playing 21 times in his breakthrough season last term and scoring four goals in his first five Championship games of the current campaign.
To lose him will have been a big blow for Forest fans despite the lucrative fee, but Dumitru already has his eyes on stepping into the shoes of the attacking talent.
The 24-year-old said, via the club’s Twitter account: “Oliver Burke is a really tough act to follow but I’m hopeful that I can do as well as he did for Nottingham Forest. I’m excited to start playing [but] I have no right to walk into the team. I want to earn my place in the side and can only do that by working really hard.”
The former Italian youth international also revealed that he turned down several other Championship offers to instead make Forest the seventh loan spell he has undergone since joining parent club Napoli six years ago.
“I had two or three offers from other clubs in the Championship but I wanted to come here. I’m really pleased to sign for Forest. I can play on either flank or as a centre forward. I want to help the team and hopefully impress the fans as well.
“I’ve made a few mistakes in my career but I’ve learnt from them. I want to settle down at a club now and for that to be Forest.”
Dumitru could be involved from the start as Forest take on Midlands rivals Villa at Villa Park this weekend, particulaely with Dexter Blackstock also having left the club in recent days.
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