Brentford B centre-back, Benjamin Fredrick, has cited Real Madrid legend, Sergio Ramos, as his footballing role model and wants to play like the Spanish superstar, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Fredrick, 18, joined The Bees on loan in August from Simoiben F.C. in Nigeria, with an option to buy permanently included in the deal. He was immediately drafted into the B team.
Following his move to West London, Fredrick has quickly settled into life as a Brentford B player and is growing to become one of the team’s most reliable players.
The rising star bases his game off Ramos, the Sevilla star’s winning mentality something Fredrick has brought into his own game.
“I look up to Sergio Ramos, he’s my role model. I love his mentality on the pitch and off the pitch,” said Fredrick.
“When I’m on the pitch I always want to play like Ramos … because his mentality on the pitch, he hates losing. I hate losing, I always want to win.”
The ex-Nassarawa United defender also revealed he had leant on Brentford first team player and Nigeria national team member Frank Onyeka since coming to England, the 25-year-old helping Fredrick adjust to life in west London.
“He (Onyeka) told me a lot about the club, he told me I need to work hard, he told me the club is a good club, it’s like a family and I’ve seen it since I’ve been here.
“The players always encourage me … everybody loves me and I love all my mates, I’m grateful for that.”
While having made a seamless transition to life as a Brentford player on the pitch, Fredrick concedes the move to London has been tough at times. However, his love for the game has helped him settle into his new home and go from strength to strength.
“Football has always been my life, I’ve loved football from (when I was) small, it has always been part of me,” said Fredrick.
“It was not easy, but the love of the game and the passion brought me here, and the hard work on and off the pitch.”
