Meet Ampadu, David Luiz’s hair apparent!
ETHAN AMPADU and David Luiz had just finished a training session in Perth when they were told about a local boy who idolised Chelsea.
The defensive duo were asked if they would be interested in meeting Hudson McCarthy, aged four and a big Luiz fan. ‘Why not?’ said 17-year-old Ampadu.
So off they went, along with midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, to Hudson’s home for a surprise visit, to talk football and make a little boy’s day. Seeing them sat in the living room, a strange thought occurred: Ampadu is closer in age to Hudson than the centre back he partnered a day later against Perth Glory, securing a clean sheet and a 1-0 win.
Sometimes it is easy to forget this cool and composed centre half, who already has two caps for Wales, is still a teenager with stubble above his lip and a head full of dreadlocks.
‘The maturity has maybe come from being around the first team at such a young age,’ Ampadu explains. ‘You can still have the banter, have a laugh, but then there is the serious side.
‘That helps me mature. That helps me grow as a person. The level-headedness has definitely come from my dad, Kwame. He keeps me grounded. And my mum, Wendy. I feel good.’
Kwame is a former Swansea and Exeter midfielder who is now Under 18s coach at Arsenal, the club where he started his career.
For Kwame’s son, fellow wackyhaired defender Luiz has become a mentor.
‘He’s helped me a lot,’ Ampadu adds. ‘Even after the game (against Perth), he pulled me over, gave me a quick chat.
‘He’ll help anyone and everyone. It’s good to be around someone like him, especially being young in the changing room, because he will definitely help me out.
‘I’d like to get more minutes. I’d like to play more games. I’m still on my comeback from injury. It’s just good to be out there back in this shirt. Hopefully if I keep working, keep training hard, I’ll get my chances.’
His next chance to impress new boss Maurizio Sarri should come against Inter Milan in Nice tonight.
It has been some journey. Ampadu has gone from slugging away with Exeter in League Two to starting Sarri’s first match in charge.
But this ambitious young man knows he still has a long way to go. ‘I haven’t done a lot. I’m still working towards that,’ says Ampadu, who appeared 12 times last season before suffering a serious ankle injury.
‘It was difficult (getting injured). It was disappointing. You have to be positive about every situation. You have to think, “I’ll come back fitter, better, stronger”, stuff like that. You have to look forward.’
Sarri has spoken with Ampadu about what he wants to see next season. The new boss is after a defender who knows how to distribute the ball, which suits Ampadu down to the ground.
‘I like playing with the football,’ says Ampadu. ‘I like being a ball-playing centre half.
‘(Sarri) is very good tactically. Pre-season has been good. We’ve been working every day for us to get used to him, him to get used to us.’
After defeating Perth in front of 55,000 fans, Ampadu was told four-year-old Hudson had been given special permission to stay up past his bedtime to attend. Rather than head inside for a shower, Ampadu went to find the young fan and his family to ask if they had fun.
Ampadu is already someone showing maturity beyond his years. With Luiz as a mentor, he feels he can go far.