Borini: I feel settled already
Fabio Borini may have only been a Liverpool player for a matter of weeks, but the Italy international has revealed he already feels settled at the club.
The 21-year-old became Brendan Rodgers' first signing as Reds boss in July and joined up with his new teammates in the second week of our recent North America tour having cut short his summer break.
Now back on Merseyside, Borini is hoping to secure a new apartment in the coming weeks as he adjusts to his new surroundings - but at Melwood, the forward is already feeling part of the group.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It is a really good group of honest people here and they're really nice guys.
"I got inside the group very quickly and they've helped me (settle). If I need something, I'll ask no problem and they'll show me.
"Stevie G and Carragher are the key men and the key players of the club, Glen Johnson is always helping me, Joe Cole does too because I knew him before I came here.
"Dani Pacheco has maybe helped me the most because I stayed with him in the hotel and he has shown me around the city centre.
"I am looking for an apartment now. I've already got a car and phone and I am trying to settle very quickly so I'll just need to think about and focus on football. That is the most important thing.
"The lads have already told me about an Italian - San Carlo in the city centre. I've been there once already with Dani Pacheco and Suso and it was very nice!"
So eager to join up with the Liverpool squad, Borini declined the option of an extended break following his involvement with Italy's run to the Euro 2012 final.
"It was a little bit tough to start training again because I didn't have much rest, but it was more mentally than physically," he explained. "Even though I didn't play at the Euros, I always trained and got myself mentally ready for an opportunity.
"I got three weeks of holidays and then I wanted to come back earlier to be with the team. It was my choice, but I am happy with it. Now I just need some time to get back physically, and that's normal."
After almost a week of training in Boston, Borini was handed his Reds bow in Saturday's goalless draw with Tottenham at the M&T Bank Stadium.
He said: "It felt quite good to make my debut. It's an important shirt and the first thing I need to worry about is the front of the shirt (the badge) rather than the back (the name).
"That is the most important thing to show the people - and also to me because when you wear a shirt, what is on the front is more important than what's on the back.
"It's an historic club and has won so many trophies in the past, and it wants to win just as many in the future.
"This is a really good target to try and reach. Because Liverpool is a great club in England and all over the world, it gives you more power and strength to do more. It's a great achievement for me and I hope to show many qualities here."
Liverpool were well supported throughout their tour of North America in Toronto, Boston and Baltimore, and Borini admits he was left blown away by the size of the Reds' fanbase across the globe.
"It was amazing," he stated. "I didn't expect so many supporters in America. I didn't realise Liverpool had so many supporters away from England.
"It made a good impression and impact on me about the club. I know now about the passion from outside, and I'll try to bring that inside."
As well as Borini's debut, one of the main highlights of Liverpool's tour was the opportunities handed to the club's clutch of youngsters by Brendan Rodgers.
Though still of a tender age himself, our new No.29 insists he'll do all he can to help them in their quest to make a first-team breakthrough.
"I think we've got good young players that want to show what they can do, and they've got the right attitude to reach the first team one day," he stated.
"I've been in the same position as them and I've been in and out of first teams, so I always tell them not to look down and keep their heads up, even if they go back into the reserves because that's the way of the first team at a top club.
"It's not a small club, so it's more difficult to get into the first team and they've just got to keep their heads up and keep working because there are more good players here."
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