Ylber Ramadani on Aberdeen exit as Lecce ‘project’ lured midfielder to Serie A dream

The Dons bid farewell to the Albania international earlier this summer as he completed his £1.1million move to Italy having been a firm fan favourite at Pittodrie last season.

Ylber Ramadani couldn’t say no to a move away from Aberdeen when his desire to run out in one of Europe’s top leagues was presented to him by Serie A side Lecce.

The Albania international sealed his reported £1.1million move to Italy earlier this month having been a firm fan favourite at Pittodrie last season.

He admits that it was hard to walk away from the Dons who he played a big role for in steering the side to European football, but the midfielder knew dream football opportunities don’t come around often.

Ramadani told the Daily Record: “It is a big step for me and I had to take it. When I was a kid I always dreamed of playing in one of the best leagues in the world.

“Serie A is the second best league in the world and for me, it was a dream come true. I told my father that I have been away from home for 12 years and I always told him I was going to make it.

“So when the chance came I had to say to Dave [Cormack, chairman], Alan [Burrows, chief executive] and Steven [Gunn, director of football] I need to move because this is my dream to play in Serie A. I have to thank Aberdeen because they have given me this opportunity and allowed it to happen.”

The midfielder’s dream became reality at the weekend when he made his Serie A debut and helped Lecce to a brilliant opening day win over Lazio. “The Italian league I know well because I watch it every weekend,” the 27-year-old admitted.

“I like the project at Lecce. They are investing, looking to improve. They want to stay in the league and to go higher than last year.

“I can’t wait to play in some top stadiums and also at Lecce and we have a big home crowd. The first match against Lazio was a sell-out.”

Ramadani will always be indebted to Aberdeen and is well aware that if Jim Goodwin hadn’t taken a punt on him from MTK Budapest last summer then he wouldn’t be in Italy now.

He has now swapped his Aberdeen shirt for the Red Army and will be cheering them on when they go into Thursday’s Europa League play-off with BK Hacken. He stated: “Aberdeen FC will always be in my heart and in that of my family.

“The club treated me like we had been together for 20 years. It was emotional for me when I left.

“Most of the fans loved me and they still send me messages. My time in Aberdeen has been one of the best times in my career up to now.

“Everybody welcomed me from the first day, Dave, Steven and Jim [Goodwin]. I knew I would do well at Aberdeen because I believe in myself. It was the best step in my career to move to Aberdeen and it is a time I will never forget.”

The highlights for Ramadani were the win over Rangers and the game against St Mirren that clinched third place. He proudly said: “When we beat Rangers at home and also when we beat St Mirren to clinch third and European group stage football.

“They were the standout games. When I first spoke to the club, I told them I want to come and challenge for the top three positions in the league.

“I am so happy that we made that because the club deserves that. It is a big club and we made it. There were ups and downs but we managed to get there.”