Aina is the first to greet Toro: the winger leaves on a free transfer

There are those who take stock and those who make an appointment for next year, those who say goodbye forever. The day after the end of the championship Instagram is clogged like the highway that leads to the holidays, at least that of the grenade profiles. All, or almost all, to send messages through the social network which has become their press room. From Sanabria who talks about a beautiful and difficult season and thanks the fans for their support, to Karamoh who, with the renewal of his contract in his pocket, makes an appointment for next month, when a new season will start. Of the group of uncertainties, the first to formalize his departure is Ola Aina, who has reached the end of his journey in a grenade after 5 years. «The first… The last», writes the Nigerian full-back on his profile, sticking up the postcard of his debut against Roma and that of his farewell in the match he lost against Inter. In between is the whole story of a footballer who could have exploded, but it didn’t. An adventure that started with many expectations but ended “with the lights off”, as those who brought him to Italy from Chelsea in 2018 on the advice of his friend Conte often said: the then sporting director Petrachi.

And precisely the business card, the school of the Blues, had the illusion that Aina could become another capital gain. At first, the Cairo club strongly believed in the talent of Mr Lulu, as they have called him since his London days. So much so that after a few months he redeems him from the English by paying him 10 million: practically what Torino should pay out now for Miranchuk, who is a striker by profession. Other times. The full-back repays the trust with 1 goal and 3 assists in the first year, but when it’s time to explode he stops. He sinks with all of Toro, alternating interesting plays with often lethal oversights. So he was loaned to Fulham, where he stood out. And yet, the chassis is there, not just a constant cheerfulness that infects the locker room. Juric also notices this and immediately understands the player’s qualities: «Of the 4 full-backs Aina is the most complete, he has quality, crossing, dribbling, but he needs to improve in many aspects».

In this case the transformation does not come. Or rather, only halfway through: in his best moment, after finding continuity in performances – in addition to the goal against Udinese on matchday 11 – the winger is injured. And he loses the last chance to stay in the grenade. He closes with 2 goals and 7 assists in 113 games. And the regret, at 26, of not having fully grown up yet. He will return to the Premier League: at least this is his dream.