Negri warns Aaron against a quick move to England
Marco Negri believes Aaron Hickey could do with another year at Bologna before pitting himself against worldc l a s s talents in the Premier League.
The Scotland defender has been tipped to make a £ 14.5 million move to the Premier League this summer, with Brentford big admirers.
B o l o g n a ’s sports d i r e c t o r, Giovanni Sartori, has stated that he expects Hickey to leave the club in this window.
The transfer would be great news for Hearts, who negotiated a 10% sell- on clause when they sold him to the Italians in September 2020.
It would also present the 20-year-old Scot with the sort of opportunity the majority of his peers could only dream of.
However, Negri, the former Rangers striker now working as a media pundit in Italy, counsels against Hickey taking on too much too soon.
“Aaron is a very strong player, and someone I have followed since he started at Hearts,” he said. “He has grown a lot at Bologna, and settled in quickly.
“That’s not easy for foreigners coming into Serie A, a much moredifficult environment than the Premiership.
“The fact he was able to do that shows he is an intelligent footballer. But he can, and must, improve in the defensive aspects of the game.
“The top flight in
England is at a higher level still than Serie A and Hickey plays in the area where you are most vulnerable.
“He w o u l d be up against Mo Salah, Riyad Mahrez and Son Heungm i n – world-class forwards, who are certain to punish any mistake.
“To go up against these great champions is very hard indeed. And Arsenal is not Bologna, where even if you have a tough day they forgive you.
“Young players need the trust of their clubs, and Hickey definitely has that where he is.
“Staying put would a l l ow him to g r ow without too much pressure, and he would gain experience before making the big leap.”
Bologna manager Sinisia Mihajlovic wants to keep Hickey, but the cash on offer looks like taking the decision out of his hands.
Having bought the left- back for around £1.5m, selling at the price mooted would give the club a huge profit, even after Hearts’ sell- on is taken into consideration.
“I think even if Hickey stays at Bologna, the interest from England is a compliment to him,” said Negri.
“You do not end up in the sights of English clubs by chance. You have to have earned their respect.
“I believe the decision he takes will be made for the good of his career, just as he did with the move to Italy.”