Amadou Onana found Romelu Lukaku's Everton wisdom to be true within days of joining the club.
The 21-year-old sought the advice of the former Blues striker - his Belgium international teammate - as he weighed up a move to Goodison Park. Lukaku, who scored 68 Premier League goals for Everton, told the midfield starlet the club was "like a big family".
Onana said he was convinced by the guidance of "big bro" Lukaku and found his description to be the case almost immediately, acknowledging: "That is exactly what I have found."
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Onana was born in Senegal before moving to Belgium with his family at the age of 11. He was aware of the influence of Belgian players at the Blues while growing up and it was to this network that he turned to for advice after Everton agreed a deal to buy him from French club Lille over the summer. As well as Lukaku, he also spoke to former Blues manager - and current Belgium boss - Roberto Martinez while making his decision.
Speaking to Everton's club website, Onana described these conversations. He said: “There was a lot of respect for this club from everyone I spoke to. I know about the history of Everton — I knew before coming it’s a big, big club. Those guys [Belgian players who have been at Everton, including Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini and Kevin Mirallas] have been successful and why can't I continue that?
"My first memories of watching Everton are back in Senegal, because I watched a lot of Premier League games as a kid. Fellaini was here back then. He was a very, very good player who did a lot for Everton and my goal has to be to do as much as him, or even better. I spoke to Romelu, too. He told me that I’d feel at home because it’s like a big family. That is exactly what I have found. He knew I would enjoy it here and there wasn't a doubt in his mind. I was like, ‘Aight, let’s do this, big bro.’"
Onana had played "more just for fun" in Senegal but after moving to Belgium he was snapped up by Anderlecht. He grew frustrated there but, when an opportunity to step up emerged and he was unable to take it because he had to return to Senegal, he feared his chances of becoming a professional footballer were over.
He said: "I came back and I kept trying to impress but they didn’t want me and I remember saying to my sister, like, in French we have a saying that says there are trains that only pass one time and if you miss it, then you’re smoked. That’s how I felt. I thought I had missed my chance, but my sister encouraged me to keep going, keep working. Those moments can be difficult because there are always people who will tell you that you might as well quit, you’re not good enough etc. As a young teenager, it’s hard to cope with those tough words, but, thanks to my will and also the support of my sister and the rest of my family, I just kept working through it."
Onana's family play a major role in his life and the way in which relatives have overcome health scares is now what drives him. His sister, Melissa, was diagnosed with cancer and his mum is dealing with Myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weakness. Melissa, now his agent, has recovered while his mother is managing her condition. Their battles shaped Onana. He said: "Everything seemed to happen in the same time and it was a really, really difficult time for me. But that was and is my fuel — it’s extra motivation to give absolutely everything I have to succeed."
Onana left Anderlecht, first staying in Belgium with RWS Bruxelles and Zulte Waregem before a key move to German side Hoffenheim in 2017. From there he has not looked back. After three years in the club academy he joined Hamburg, where his performances led to Lille moving for him and then, this summer, Everton, where he has already made an impression.
That move to Hoffenheim was crucial to Onana's progress, a defining point in his development and one he reflects on with honesty and maturity. He said: "The move from Belgium to Germany was the most difficult. I’m a big family guy that grew up in a house with my whole family, so I was used to constantly being with other people. I moved to Germany on my own and doing everything on my own was just so different to me.
"Of course, I had the support of my family, but it was difficult at first not being around them. I knew I had to learn German and quickly. Firstly, because not many players could speak English and I had to adapt real quick. I had to learn their language so on the pitch it wouldn’t be a problem to speak to each other. It would also help me adapt in a new environment. It took me nearly five months. Dutch and German are quite similar languages and there are words that look alike, so that helped me. As tough as it was at the time, that experience ultimately helped me become who I am today."
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