Keinan Davis interview: Audinini striker about his release by Stevenage and scored in San Siro against Inter Milan | Football news

When Keinan Davis weighs his options in the summer of 2023, the attacker was tilted towards the tournament. It was a conversation with his former coach at Biggleswade United, convinced him of being pressing Udines instead.

“Dave Northfield is a very important person for me and I listen to him,” says Davis Sky Sports. “When I was a little anxious, it was like,” You can’t reject an opportunity to play against Inter in San Siro “and things like that.”

On the last day of August in 2025, an amazing justification came. In front of more than 70,000 supporters inside this San Siro, Davis scored the equalizer from the penalty place, set up the winning goal and moved away from Milan with the match man’s award as well.

“It was good to feel love, even from people who do not support Odinin. People from my old band only send me because it is San Siro. Where did I come from, it’s not a place I think I will end in the end, do you know?

“It is a historical stadium, to go there and win it was amazing. To score in its top score. Taking into account all these fans, all that noise, those are the moments in which you live. These are the situations in which you want to be a football player.”

Former Davis club supporters, Nutingham Forest, may be surprised by Aquba. He did not take one during Forest’s victory at Forest over Sheffield United in a semi -finals. “I was seventh, I think. I was very tense at the time.”

In Aston Villa, before that, he took only one, and that was for the development team. “I missed.” But watching Davis’s composure in the Odini shirt, even to the affected period, is impossible not to reach a conclusion that it has matured.

“At the time before the season, I was doing the penalties every day, just waiting for this moment really. I knew that we would get a punishment sooner or later, so I was well ready.” The players gave him a chance. “I feel the responsibility is on No. 9.”

It is responsibility to be enjoyable, albeit late. Davis made only six games during his first season in Udinese. “Nightmare,” he says. “Terrible. I couldn’t show anything.” The second season was better, but still young because of the injury.

“It was very difficult,” Davis admits. ))

“Far from the games, you don’t travel with the team. It was very difficult to feel part of everything and you can start playing in your mind a little. But I feel that I have passed now and I feel comfortable here and everyone started seeing that.”

Davis has a lifestyle in Odin – “Quiet and Woody” – with his partner and daughter. But he did not always feel comfortable. In fact, Davis freely admits that he never felt at home in Aston Villa. There was a type of Antichrist.

He was signed by Biggleswade after his release from Stevenage. Players tend to get armed from smaller academies. They are rarely released and then earn a deal in a larger one. “It was such a sharp change.” It was not the distinguished youth talent.

“I was not even the first option striker. Rachan Hepburn Murphy appeared for the first time in the English Premier League. I always felt as if I was randomly presented. I got a trial, and signed. I felt that I did not mean to be there if that was logical.”

In this context, its manifestations are 87 for Villa. He says now, “This mentality helped me,” he says now. “I was always in my stomach, this feeling that I had to show people. It’s really a driving force inside me.” One returns to this refusal Stephenig.

“Everyone in the area knew that I played with Stepheng. It was a kind of my identity, and that’s not good.” He plays with Stefing. He is a soccer player. ”When you are released, what are you now?

Davis got his second chance. “This is why I am very grateful to Dave to keep me in football in Biggleswade. The scout fell. It was supposed to be.” His message to young people who may find themselves in the same position? “Continue,” he says.

“Some people will not leave that this is all they have. That’s what was the case for me. There was nothing else that I would have been not a football player. If you really have the fire in your stomach, then continue to walk the right track and make your dreams come true.”

Davis says he lives his friends’ dreams and has not yet ended. The Arady First Division brings the best of it. He recounts his origins as “the pace, strength and contract of the ball, which makes others to play” and there is an argument that these characteristics emerge in Italy.

“Bring this financial aspect to the Italian first division A. Not like the Premier League. It is very material in England, very transitional. In the first division, they love a low block. It may be difficult. The players are not the fastest or stronger, but they are mindful, they like to defend them.

“When I was defending in England, it was not really in my mind to drop in No. 6 and now click here or press there. But you have to get to these numbers here, the manager is very big in it. The tactical side is the place where you have improved more.”

He had no choice. “I had to download a lot to survive.” But now is completely appropriate, hope is that he can enjoy the best season in his career. “Every striker has a number. I definitely have a number that I have not reached before, but I will keep him myself at the moment.”

For some, this step outside always comes with one eye to prove a point when it returns. However, at the age of twenty -seven, Davis is no longer thinking about these conditions. Especially after the Inter. “It gives you faith. If you can do this against them, you can do this against anyone,” he says.

“England used to be at the forefront of my mind. But coming here has opened my eyes. There are many big clubs that I have not understood how size. There is Italy, Germany and France. England is not necessary now. I just want to enjoy football.”