UNBELIEVABLE ZEF
Hoops skipper Finn backs ‘talented boy’ Kevin to thrive at Inter Milan
INTER MILAN are signing “a very talented boy” and potential Ireland international in Shamrock Rovers teen Kevin Zefi.
That’s according to Hoops skipper Ronan Finn who regards the 15-year-old rising star as an exceptional talent.
But Finn – who is also part of the Rovers under-15s coaching staff – has urged Zefi to stay grounded ahead of the switch in the summer.
Ireland underage ace Zefi featured in the Hoops First Division team last season and became the youngest ever player to score in the league in September.
Inter Milan and Dutch giants
PSV have been linked with the teenage attacker since last year but the Italians are set to sign him.
Finn said: “Inter Milan are a huge club and Kevin is a very talented boy. I wish him the best of luck as he’s a very good lad. “We want our young boys to get into our first team and represent Rovers but this happens with talented young players where a powerhouse of Europe comes knocking.
“I watched him at under-12 level and he was playing for St Kevin’s against Shamrock Rovers and was very good that day. Then he played the year above for the next final.
“Shane Robinson convinced him to come to us and he’s been a part of the club’s success. I started working with him a bit more closely and from day one you could recognise the talent.
“He has unbelievable technical ability but football is more than that and you need to have the appetite, attitude and hunger to work hard.”
Zefi has yet to play competitively for the Rovers first team but has trained with the group and Finn said he could hold his own.
“He dipped his toe in with the first team and he wasn’t afraid,” added the Premier Divisionwinning captain (inset).
“We had to treat him as a man, we couldn’t be dancing around him. This is the environment he’s going to be in and if he wants to be a pro footballer he has to learn.
“It’s hard to say how far a player will go but I hope he stays injury free as you want him to keep progressing. But football is a very difficult industry and the competition at a powerhouse like Inter Milan will be very high.
“But if Kevin backs himself and does the right things, like keeping his feet on the ground, hopefully we might have a future international.”