Adam Buksa said that Udinese was “the right club at the right time” for him and his career as he spoke at his presentation press conference on Monday.
The Poland striker was the final summer signing to be unveiled to the media – and did so having already played two games for the club, both wins, against Inter and Pisa.
Before the player himself took questions from the gathered journalists, managing director Franco Collavino and technical director Gokhan Inler each gave a brief introduction.
Collavino: "This is the last of this round of player presentations at the end of the summer transfer window and we are delighted to unveil Buksa, a player with a wealth of experience. He is a Poland international who has already played at numerous clubs around Europe and taken part in international tournaments, such as the most recent European Championships. He has scored goals wherever he's played and fits the sort of player our coach was looking for. They have worked together before and now Adam is here with us. With the players from last year and our new signings, we now have great variety of attacking options. I welcome Adam on behalf of the club.
Inler: “I can say lots of great things about Buksa. We played against each other in Turkey a few years ago and that's where I got to know him. The coach really wanted to bring him to Udinese. He's the sort of player who always plays his heart out. He's a natural leader who can help in the dressing room with his experience. I'm happy to have him here with us. I welcome him and wish him the best of luck.”
The striker then took the floor.
“Thank you for the presentation and the kind words. I'm happy to be here at this fantastic club with a great history. I want to perform at my best. In these first few matches we've shown that we can compete and we could do great things this season but we all need to work hard. I think this is the right place t the right time for me. I can't wait to play again and to play for more time.
“The first few weeks are always difficult if you don't join the club in pre-season but I think I've done quite well. We've got off to a good start, winning two games and drawing one. The team takes priority.
“Serie A is a challenge for any striker as it's renowned for the quality of the defences. If you're striker and you do well in Serie A, it means you're a good striker. There are a lot of good strikers at Udinese so it's an opportunity for me to show what I can do. We've made a good start but there's a lot more to come.
“I've known [Kosta] Runjaic for a long time. We worked together in Poland for two years and that's where my career took off. He's one of the main reasons I'm here and why I've had the career I've had. He believed in me from the very start. I didn't have much experience but he saw my potential. He told me he knew how to help me and how to manage me. The most important thing at that time was patience and he showed that with me, although he's a coach who expects a lot from his players. It's the same here: he expects a lot but it brings results. Everyone here knows they'll improve and they will see results. He was a key reason why I joined Udinese and I'm very happy to be here with him."
“I first came to Italy 12 years ago when I joined the Novara Primavera team. I was a different man, a different player with a different playing style and a different weight! It was a great experience but I'm a different player now. Now I'm a proper striker, whereas at the time I was more of a false nine. The main thing I learnt in Novara was Italian. For now I feel more comfortable speaking in English but I'll soon be able to give interviews in Italian. My brother played for Genoa and he told me lots of excellent things about Serie A, although the whole world knows what Serie A is about. I used to watch it as a kid so I know the league well.
“My job here is to score goals and provide assists. The first two games were a bit different because I had to help the team hold onto a lead. I still have a lot to show. I'm sure I and we as a team will do well this year.
“Inter was a tough game to make your Serie A debut in but I'm happy because those are the games you train hard to be able to play in. My first game in Serie A, my first game at San Siro, and we won – I couldn't have asked for more. We want to build on that result now. I may have realised a dream but after the win we immediately started thinking about the next game. We want to experience that sort of feeling every weekend. We want to keep winning.
“I can only say good things about the mentality of this team. If you're defending a lead at San Siro, you need everyone to show leadership. Everyone has to do their job and that's not an easy mentality to have. We have courageous players who take responsibility and know what they want. This dressing room is one of the best I've seen in my career. The personalities are very compatible. I've been welcomed really well. I had to fit in quickly because we had the game in Milan soon after I joined, but it was as if I'd been here much longer. I want to achieve great results with this team.
“I didn't know [Jesper] Karlstrom before coming here but we've both played in Poland so we have lots of things to talk about. [Jakub] Piotrowski is a great friend of mine, a good guy and an excellent player. We were in touch before either of us joined, then when he came here he spoke very enthusiastically about the club. When you join a club and there are people you know already or have things in common with makes it easier but everyone is very welcoming and hard-working. There's great harmony in the dressing room.
“I can play different ways depending on the playing system. If you have two strikers, you need to be more flexible. If you don't have good movement, you don't get the ball and you can't show what you can do. I've played in different formations. I know what the boss wants from me. Pisa and Milan were similar matches: we didn't have much of the ball and I had to hold up the ball, as well as trying to score, but generally I feel most comfortable in the box when I can receive crosses and balls from deep, making runs in on goal. I feel I'm a centre forward but you have to adapt and I'm flexible. I can play in different positions depending on what's needed, depending on the match, the different moments in a match and the opponents.
“Do I prefer playing alongside another No.9 or a No.10? It depends. I haven't played with [Keinan] Davis yet and he's a great No.9. Yesterday I played with [Nicolo] Zaniolo. We haven't had much time to train together but I'm pleased with our understanding on the pitch. When you play with two strikers it's different as you have to coordinate your movements well. With a 10, the movements come more naturally, but I'm happy to adapt.
“Udinese is a great club that's well known around the world. There have been a few Polish players here. I spoke to [Piotr] Zielinksi and he had great things to say. I haven't had time to explore the city yet. My wife and I are looking for a house but we're happy here. The people are very friendly. My main focus is the pitch but it's important to be in an environment and a city where you feel comfortable. My first impression has been excellent. I can't wait to play the next games.”