He’s the forgotten Scot of Serie A. Okay, so he wasn’t actually born here. And he sounds more Cockney than Caledonia. But Luis Binks’ dream is to pull on a Dark Blue shirt and join Steve Clarke’s boys on the road to Euro 2024.
Everyone here is aware of our current Italian success stories. Lewis Ferguson is flying at Bologna. Before him, Aaron Hickey was ripping it up there ahead of making a £14million move to Brentford. At Verona, Josh Doig has made an impact in his first season. While Liam Henderson rarely looks fazed up against any of the top sides when he plays for Empoli. They are all household names at home having made their mark at Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs.
But Binks? Far less so. He was born in Gillingham and grew up at Tottenham Hotspur. But as a kid he’d regularly take trips to Dunbar to see his Scottish grandad Richard and his mum’s side of the family.
That’s why, when the Tartan Army first clapped eyes on him in the Victory Shield six years ago, he was proud to be called a Scot. Later, as he progressed at Spurs, he played for both England and Scotland up to Under-19 level.
But there was one place he felt more comfortable – and it wasn’t with the Auld Enemy. Binks is now 21 and at Bologna alongside Ferguson.
He’s also best pals with Hickey and a former team-mate of both Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour at youth level. The centre-back has already played in Serie A and last season spent a year on loan at Como, playing alongside ex- Arsenal and Spain legend Cesc Fabregas.
Before that, he was in the MLS at Montreal Impact where his gaffer was Thierry Henry. And now he’s got his eye on a future Scotland call-up.
Speaking exclusively to MailSport , Binks said: “It does feel a bit like I’m the Scot in Italy who no one in Scotland really knows about! Obviously, I’m English-born and that’s clearly a factor. People hear my accent and wouldn’t know that I’m eligible for Scotland.
“But I’m Scottish as well. I hope I’ve got a chance to be involved with the national team. I definitely want it – but it’s whether Scotland wants me?
“My grandad Richard was Scottish, from Dunbar. I actually spoke to someone from the SFA a few months ago and told them I’d like to play for Scotland. There seems to be a perception that I have said no before.
“But that’s not the case, I’d never say no to Scotland. If the opportunity ever came up, of course I’d want to be part of it.
“I had a positive experience with Scotland when I was involved at Under-16 and Under-18 level. The group of boys I played with were great. I learned back then that the Scottish lads are so down to earth.
“When you go away with other countries, they can be a bit big-time. “I’m not like that.
“I fit in with the Scottish boys a lot more than I did when I went away with England. I look at lads like Gilmour and Patterson and they’re so grounded.
“Obviously I know Aaron and he’s very level-headed as well. That’s why I’d like to be part of it.
“From the outside, the camp looks so positive right now. I watched the win over Spain at Hampden and it was rocking that night.
“That definitely appeals to me. But for me to get an opportunity I know I need to do well in Italy
“If I do that next season, I might get a call-up.
“My grandad would be so proud if I played for Scotland, as well as all his family up there. My mum – my grandad’s daughter – would take us there when we were kids to see him. She’s always tried to keep the Scottish going in me.”
When Binks joined Bologna from Spurs in 2020, he immediately moved to Montreal to work with Henry. Last season, he returned to Italy and made 15 appearances in Serie A.
He could have stayed there this season alongside Ferguson – but opted to join Fabregas at Como, where he got proper game time under his belt.
He said: “It was great to play with Cesc. I’d heard he was going there before I signed. So I thought: ‘If it’s good enough for him, it has to be good enough for me’.
“The whole project at Como in Serie B appealed to me but Cesc being there was a big factor. To play with players like that is incredible.
“Around the place, he was just top drawer. Cesc is so down-to-earth, so normal. But he’s won the World Cup, the Euros and the Champions League.
“So for him to have the time of day for everyone was amazing. He was always giving me advice. He wants to be a manager, he’s passionate about that.
“So you could always go to him for help. Sometimes he’d give you it even when you didn’t ask, which was brilliant.
“Asking someone like Fabregas a question isn’t always easy for a young player. For him to go out of his way and tell you what he thought was great for me.
“It was a thrill to play alongside him because I grew up watching him on TV. To watch him win the World Cup then have him as my captain was just unreal.”
But Binks also loved being a team-mate of current Scotland star Hickey in Bologna. They’re still in regular contact, even though the full-back is now in the Premier League.
And Binks says they’re both proof that taking a gamble and moving abroad can reap huge rewards He said: “I was close to Aaron when he was here. We lived literally a minute away from each other in Bologna.
“We used to share a room together before games, home or away. Being the same age, and coming from where we’d been, we clicked straight away.
“I still speak to him now and we’re quite close. With Lewis, I only had a few days with him before leaving for Como but I’ve spoken to him and he’s done so well this season.
“Since Thiago Motta has come in as manager, he’s playing every week and
scoring in Serie A. He’s on fire.
“I would tell any young player from Scotland or England that if they get the chance to move to Italy, they should go and experience it. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it at Bologna and Como. Look at Doig in Verona, he’s moved to a top league and played against all the top Italian clubs.
“That’s much better than going on loan to the English Championship or somewhere like that. Of course it’s a risk. I could have moved to other English clubs from Tottenham.
“But it was more exciting to go abroad so I took a gamble. Hopefully it’s now paying off.”
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