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Super Eagles star Ola Aina has revealed the reason he left Premier League giants Chelsea 12 years ago.
Aina has been remarkable for Nottingham Forest this season and recently helped his team seal a 1-0 victory over Tottenham.
The Nigerian international has scored two goals for his team this season and has helped his team keep seven clean sheets, tied with Liverpool and Everton.
Nottingham Forest are currently third on the Premier League table and vying for a top-four finish this season.
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Aina speaks on leaving Chelsea
Following his career trajectory, Aina has opened up on why he left the Blues under Antonio Conte.
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Speaking to Layo's Choice, Aina said, "It's the life of a footballer. I was at Chelsea from the age of 10 or 11, stayed there for like 12 years.
"It gets to a point in your career where you want to push a little bit so that's why I made the move to Italy, to better my skills. It was a good experience.
"I prefer back home than overseas because closer to my family and friends, easier to see people."
Aina has hinted that his desire to advance his career was the reason behind his departure from Chelsea.
The defender has played for five different teams over nine years, including Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Hull City, Torino and Fulham.
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The Nigerian international spent twelve years at Chelsea, progressing through the development system until making his professional debut in an August 2016 Carabao Cup match against Bristol Rovers.
The Chelsea youth team, which won two UEFA Youth League championships in 2015 and 2016 and played in consecutive FA Youth Cup finals against Manchester City and Fulham, featured Aina as a key player.
The Cobham product made six appearances for the Blues' first team overall before completing a permanent move to Torino, an Italian Serie A team, in the summer of 2019.
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