Curtis Jones left Liverpool for Inter Milan this summer and the midfielder has now explained his decision to leave the Reds.
Milan, Italy - September 5: Curtis Jones of Fc Internazionale looks on during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS
Curtis Jones hs started well at Inter Milan (Image: Getty Images)
Curtis Jones has revealed that Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu played a pivotal role in his decision to leave Liverpool. The Reds' academy product departed Anfield this summer in a £30million transfer to move to Serie A. Jones, 25, spent 16 years at Liverpool in total, having joined the club aged just nine.
Jones has made a strong start to life in Italy and helped orchestrate a late comeback to come from 2-0 down to beat Napoli 3-2 at the San Siro on Saturday night. Afterwards, explaining his choice to leave his boyhood club, the midfielder credited Inter boss Chivu as a major factor. He said: "There's a reason I came here: the phone calls we had, how the team plays, his tactical ideas, and how he works every single day.
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"It's the small things he says, things that might seem minor but end up having a massive impact. Plus, he has immense experience and played at the highest level himself. He's managed the squad brilliantly. He's 'one of us,' and to me, that's fundamental."
Jones added: "I just feel at home with the lads. Since the first day, they've been unbelievable and so I can just be myself.
"Of course I've got a point to prove but I know that if I'm just myself, the lads will like me, the staff and the fans as well."
Jones amassed 228 appearances for Liverpool after coming through the club's academy system, netting 22 goals along the way.
The midfielder has made an encouraging start to his new chapter, featuring as a substitute in the narrow victory over Cagliari last week.
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MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Curtis Jones, Federico Dimarco and Aessandro Bastoni of Internazio
Inter Milan completed a late comeback to beat Napoli (Image: Getty Images)
Jones was then brought on at half-time on Saturday as Inter overturned their two-goal deficit to defeat Napoli, a victory that sees Inter sat second in the early Serie A table.
"Some people say Serie A is boring and the Premier League isn't, but you didn't see that today," Jones said after his side's victory.
"There are great coaches here and so much tactics. Today was a beautiful match with plenty of chances, and the coach made several tactical adjustments that helped us win. Italian teams never surrender, it was a real spectacle."
Jones is set to return to action for Inter Milan during the week as the Italian powerhouses begin their Champions League journey against Real Madrid.
Liverpool, meanwhile, also face Spanish opponents in their European curtain-raiser as they host Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
Jones wasn't the sole high-profile departure from Liverpool this summer. Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson all departed on free transfers, while Harvey Elliott secured a season-long loan move to Spanish outfit Valencia.