Former
Arsenal and Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole says English players are afraid of
leaving their "comfort zone" by playing overseas.
The 33-year-old had spent his whole career in English football, but has now
signed a two-year deal with Italian giants Roma after slipping down the
pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
"English players are probably afraid to come abroad, they're in a comfort
zone in England," said Cole, who retired from international football after
being left out of England's World Cup squad.
"This is a chance for me to try a different language, culture and way of
living."
Cole is one of a handful of English footballers to play overseas, along with
the likes of striker Jermain Defoe, who left Tottenham to sign for MLS side
Toronto FC, and ex-Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne, who signed for
Bundesliga side Hamburg in 2011.
Veteran midfielder Frank Lampard, a former Chelsea and England team-mate of
Cole's, has also been strongly linked with a move to new MLS side New York
City.
Welshman Gareth Bale has made a success of his world-record move to Real
Madrid, while highly-rated Scottish teenager Ryan Gauld recently made a
£3million move to Sporting Lisbon.
English footballers have tended to stick to home comforts during the Premier
League era, with only occasional high-profile exceptions such as David
Beckham, who was 28 when he moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United, and
Michael Owen, who was 24 when he left Liverpool to join Real Madrid for a
short-lived spell at the Bernabeu.
Meanwhile, Cole said he was still as ambitious as ever but did not expect to
walk into the Roma team.
"As soon as I spoke to Rudi Garcia and I saw how much they wanted me here at
Roma I jumped at the chance," added Cole, who will play alongside club
legends Francesco Totti and Daniele de Rossi at the Stadio Olimpico.
"I came here to play in the Champions League. Roma is an ambitious club,
it's a challenge for me and I'm prepared to fight for my place.
"Hopefully we can do something special next season and win the league."
top