Brighton’s Jeremy Sarmiento has hinted that he would be happy to join Cremonese permanently next summer.
The versatile forward joined the Italian outfit on a season-long loan deal on deadline day after it became clear that he would struggle for minutes under Fabian Hurzeler. Cremonese also included an obligation to buy clause in negotiations, which will be activated if the Ecuador international helps the club avoid relegation this season.
Davide Nicola’s side have since settled well into the league since their promotion from Serie B, finding themselves in mid-table after 11 matches. Sarmiento has featured on seven occasions, but he is yet to assert himself as a starter yet.
Speaking to Il Grigio e il Rosso about how his time at the Stadio Giovanni Zini is panning out, the playmaker explained: “If you look at the places I’ve been, I’ve already travelled a lot.
“This is my current challenge. I have to face it, and I hope to become a better player here and show people what I’m capable of. This can become my home.”
Sarmiento was predominantly deployed out wide during his time with Brighton, as well as when out on loan at West Brom, Ipswich and Burnley, but he now finds himself adapting to roles in central areas instead.
He continued: “It’s very different for me, because last season and the season before that I played as a winger, so it’s different playing as a central midfielder or a second striker.
“But as I said before, I’m working day after day to improve in this position too, gaining confidence with the staff and my teammates.”
The 23-year-old went on to add that the Cremonese squad made him feel welcome from the get-go following his move late in the transfer window, with Premier League hero Jamie Vardy among those who helped him settle into the dressing room.
Asked about those teammates, Sarmiento concluded: “(Mikayil) Faye, (Warren) Bondo, because we’re dressing room neighbours, and (Antonio) Sanabria, who’s Paraguayan, and we have a South American bond.
“Even the other players, who are easy to talk to, welcomed me when I arrived. Even Vardy, who comes from the Premier League like me.”