Lewis Ferguson has only been at Bologna for four months. Long enough, though, to have been hit for six in the San Siro, win a Serie A prize, been linked with Juventus and scared by a man on a motorbike.
La dolce vita, as they say in these parts. The Scotland star is thriving and putting his stamp all over the Italian top flight. He took the decision to follow in the footsteps of fellow Scot Aaron Hickey when he swapped Aberdeen for the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in the summer.
Ferguson admitted: “The San Siro one was a tough night. Inter were ruthless to be fair. They caused us problems, as you can imagine with the quality they have. In fairness, we bounced back and did brilliantly against Sassuolo before the break. I got the goal which topped it all off. I got the goal of the month but it was nice because all my pals and my mum, dad and brothers were all at the game. It was good to score while everybody was across.”
Ferguson’s Bologna career has really taken lift-off. He is playing regularly, scoring goals and has even been linked with a move to the Old Lady of Turin. Yet it took him time to find his feet. It was a slow and frustrating start for the 23-year-old. He had to serve a left-over Scottish domestic suspension and then work permit delay left him cooling his heels further. It didn’t help that Bologna were struggling and head coach Thiago Motta came in to replace Sinisia Mihajlovic.
Ferguson explained: “The first couple of months were a bit mental. It was hard because I missed the first few games because I was suspended and then I missed the First Coppa Italia game because of a visa issue.
“I had to return to Scotland for my visa. I had everything in place but they took my passport because that is the process now because of the new post-Brexit rules. I was told it could take up 14 days to get it back. I had expected to just get my passport back and to go back to Italy but I had to train myself in Scotland.
“Thankfully, after a week I got my passport and all the paperwork back. I then had to get registered and so I missed the cup game. We were also under a bit of pressure because the results weren’t great and so the manager needed results and he probably went with the more experienced guys he knew, which was fair enough.
“All these things set you back when you are trying to make an impression at a new team. You have to play catch-up with your match fitness and being involved in the games. Thankfully, I managed to force myself into the team and I’ve started the last few matches. The change of manager probably worked in my favour. Motta has been really good to me.”
Ferguson is now making his mark at showing why he was one of the best young players in Scotland and why Bologna were so keen to land him. Ferguson admitted it was a big thing make his debut in the San Siro against AC Milan and then to net his first Serie A goal again Leece last month and then backed it up with another against Monza, but the pick of the bunch was a give-and-go before he curled in from the edge of the box against Sassuolo just before the break. That strike was voted goal of the month for November.
The delighted Scotland star admitted: “It just gives you confidence. I want to go and score goals to get my goals and stats up to help the team. Getting the first goal was big for me and gave me a lift to know I could do it at this level. To do it two leagues games-in-a-row was brilliant. Hopefully, I can keep getting myself into the box and there will be plenty more to come.”
Fergie thinks moving will help take his game to another level against top opposition and training with top players every day. He stated: “The level is unbelievable, even in training. I am up against guys like (Gary) Medel and (Marko) Arnautovic and they are at it everyday in training. We have a squad full of international players and it is the same when you play most teams over here. If you switch off even in training you will get punished.”
Bologna are now climbing back up the table. Ferguson is also becoming a fan’s favourite.
He explained: “The supporters are really good and I have enjoyed it. Not as many people noticed me at first but scoring goals and playing has brought me a bit more attention. The fans are great and just want to say hello or wish you all the best when you are out in the city. There have been one or two slightly bizarre requests.
“I was standing at traffic lights when this guy came up to me on a motorbike and I got a wee bit of a scare. He said: 'Ferguson, photo?' I just said okay. He took the photo and then rode off."
Ferguson now has another member of the Ferguson fan club as his girlfriend, Lauren, gave birth to their first child, daughter, Lake, earlier this month. The former Dons star beamed: “We have a wee girl, Lake. I just got back from the Scotland trip to Turkey and the day we got back my girlfriend went into labour. I’ve been back in Scotland for a few weeks since. I am going back over Thursday because we are back training on Friday. My girlfriend and daughter will stay in Scotland until January until we get Lake’s passport sorted."
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