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Derik Osede says the opportunity to challenge himself in English football under the guidance of Neil Lennon was something he simply couldn’t turn down.
Madrid-born Derik officially traded the Santiago Bernabeu for Macron Stadium earlier this week, penning a three-year deal after his Real Madrid contract had expired.
Derik had been on the books of Los Blancos since the age of eight, and in leaving behind what he describes as his ‘comfort zone’ he now hopes to further develop his game on English shores.
“It’s difficult, because I have left a lot of my family in Madrid,” Derik told the club’s official YouTube channel. “I was comfortable in Madrid, but this is a challenge for me and I’m really excited about it.
“I want to repay the manager and thank him for the trust and belief he has shown in me so far. I will train hard and play hard and hopefully prove my worth.
“It was a hard decision to leave Real Madrid. It’s the place where I have been since I was eight-years-old. But this is a good opportunity for me and I have to develop more. The English league is a hard league for me, but I think it will be good for me.
“I’ve been in contact with Bolton and Neil Lennon since June. The first thing that came to my mind was that it would be a good opportunity for me and one I was very happy to take.”
Derik follows in the footsteps of a number of former Real Madrid played to play for Wanderers down the years.
Most notably Ivan Campo and Fernando Hierro were big hits in the white of both sides, whilst more recently Rodrigo Moreno and Marcos Alonso have also made the transition.
And Derik admits he sought out the opinion of friend and fellow team-mate Alonso before setting his mind on the move.
Derik added: “I spoke with Marcos Alonso, someone I know from Real Madrid, about Bolton. He told me that Bolton is a very good club, I listened to him and took the decision to come here.
“I’m feeling good right now. The team-mates have helped me settle and the staff have been very good. I want to acclimatise quickly.
The fitness is different in Spain, and a lot of work is done with the ball. I think I will learn quickly here.”
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