Malmo new boy Ekong ‘happy to play anywhere’

Malmo new signing Emmanuel Ekong has said he will be happy to play any position upfront as long as it will benefit the team.

Ekong, 22, has signed a contract with Swedish champions Malmo until 2029 after his departure from Italian club Empoli.

 “Honestly, I play where he (the coach) wants me to play. Left, right or as a nine doesn’t matter as long as I can use my qualities to hurt the opponent,” Ekong told Sportbladet

“That’s why I am here, to threaten from upfront.”

The son of former Super Eagles star Prince Ikpe Ekong recalled a tough start to football life when he moved to Italy at 16.

“It was hard when I think about it. In Italy, no one speaks English, so you had to learn the language right away. But as a young person, you learn quite quickly,” he recollected.

“Then you missed your family and friends. It was also a completely different world than in Sweden and the Brommapojkarna. Down there there are “a hundred million” football players who are good. You are not alone.

“In Sweden I played for the best academy team but there you were one in the crowd again. It was important to step up quickly.”