It is only 23 minutes that Darian Males played for Genoa before he switched to FCB. But they are enough for the 19-year-old attacking player to say today: “That was one of the most special days of my life!” The reason is easy to explain: Males will come on as a substitute in the Coppa Italia round of 16 in January – against the great Juve. And against his “absolute role model” Cristiano Ronaldo!
Males doesn’t hold back when he talks about the encounter with the Portuguese superstar. “To be in the same place with him was synonymous for me with a dream that came true.” The few minutes would have given him a real boost after the difficult start in Genoa, characterized by a corona infection, a change of coach and zero appearances in Serie A.
“The experience of playing against Ronaldo and Co. just makes you hungrier for more!” These are moments that make him cope better with other things.
“Grab a chance at FCB!”
The fact that the ex-Lucerne man was loaned to Genoa last summer after signing with Inter Milan (until 2025) and then had to queue at the back has long been ticked off by Males. The verbal attack by his former FCL coach Fabio Celestini, who described him as a “great disappointment” because he is said to have forced the inter-transfer, also bounces off himself: “That is his opinion, I just ignore something like that. »
And the unrest surrounding FCB – from the Stocker affair to the owner dispute or fan rebellion? He does notice that, but doesn’t want to comment on it. He’s in Basel too short. Just two months. But what he could say: “I came here to really grab the chance at FCB!”
So far, I have one assist and two goals, including the one against YB in March, “the most beautiful and most important of my career so far”.
Will he go to Lausanne today? In any case, Males is hot for more highlights after his Ronaldo encounter at the beginning of the year! With the FCB. And later with Inter. “Hopefully against Cristiano again!”