Buta was one of the club’s first signings in the summer, but he was struck down with a leg injury that put paid to his hopes of making an instant debut in Serie A. The Portuguese is now raring to go and looking ahead with excitement. “I was really unlucky [with the injury]. I’ve now played in three Primavera matches to gain confidence and get into the swing of things. I feel ready for the first team and can’t wait to make my debut. Udinese was the right choice for my personal development.”
Buta’s relationship with Beto has been key to settling into the squad quickly. “Beto helped me so much in the early stages. I didn’t speak Italian and he stayed close to me. He also gives me lots of advice and tells me to stay calm and focus on my game. I’ve felt part of the squad since the beginning. All the lads have been supportive during my recovery programme following my injury.”
Having signed for the club as a future successor to Destiny Udogie, Buta also wanted to praise his team-mate and discuss their similar playing styles. “It’s true that we’re very similar. Just like me, he’s a strong and quick player. He also wants to score plenty of goals, so we’re both attack-minded.”
The defender also touched on the similarities between Italian and Portuguese football: “I haven’t noticed any major differences. In Italy, just like in Portugal with Braga, I’ve done a lot of work on tactics. [Andrea] Sottil gives me plenty of advice and asks me to play my game as well as I can. That really helps us mentally in terms of staying calm on the pitch.”