Santon grateful for Mourinho influence

Newcastle defender Davide Santon says he will always be thankful to Jose Mourinho for the influence he had on him as a youngster at Inter Milan.

The Italian was handed his professional debut by the Real Madrid coach in the 2008/09 season while at the Serie A club.

Santon, 21, was pleased to have been given the chance to play regular first-team football after the Portuguese coach made him switch to the unfamiliar full-back position.

“Jose Mourinho had a big influence on my career at Inter Milan,” Santon told The Mirror.

“It was Mourinho who switched me from being an attacker to a defender. I was only 18 and had never played in that position before.”

“I am now OK playing either side of the back four. When Mourinho first switched me, I played at left-back but then when I went to play for the Italian national side I played at right-back. But I’m happy either side.”

“Mourinho had faith in me to put me in that position and in the Inter first-team squad. I owe him a lot for pointing me in the right direction.”

“It was a great experience working with Jose Mourinho and I will always thank him for what he did. I had some great times at Inter playing in the Champions League and winning the Milan derby against AC when David Beckham was my opponent, as well as graduating to the full Italian national side.”

Santon added that it was a tough decision to leave Inter in the off-season to join Newcastle, but said he was keen on playing in the Premier League.

“It was a big call to leave Inter – they had won the Champions League under Mourinho,” he said.

“But I had always followed the Premier League and wanted to test myself in England. English football is a lot more physical than the game in Italy.”

“I didn’t come here to fill Jose Enrique’s boots – I aim to play my own game.”