Lewis Ferguson says family influences have kept his feet on the ground despite talk of interest from Serie A giants Juventus after his blistering start at Bologna.
The Scotland international left Aberdeen for Italy in the summer and has shone at the club who bought Aaron Hickey from Hearts in 2020, before selling him to Premier League outfit Brentford. It's claimed in Italy that Juve are leading the race to sign Ferguson when the winter window opens next month.
But thanks to dad Derek and uncle Barry - who both played for Rangers in their playing days - he has his head screwed on and focused on his ultimate target playing under former Barcelona and PSG star Thiago Motta. He said: "Having two former footballers in my family - my dad Derek and my uncle Barry - has led me to live and dream of football since I was a child. Their advice to me has always been that there is no defeat or victory in football that should take you to the abyss or gives you a state of extreme happiness.
"In other words, show humility and balance and keep my feet on the ground. It's the same thing that Thiago Motta teaches me every day too.
"Their level as players were both very high and I always feel I have to live up to their standards. We have a lot of technical players and have a lot of character at Bologna, we can grow a lot.
"With Thiago Motta, we work with a lot of intensity. I like it and we are also playing well. I am happy here. Little by little we have found a strong mentality and self-confidence and this has made the difference.
"I have two dreams in football - to play in the World Cup Finals with Scotland and to lift a trophy."
And Ferguson, in an interview in La Gazzetta dello Sport, admits he has international teammate Hickey to thank for persuading him to move to Bologna from Pittodrie, after his exploits in Serie A last season before his £14 million move to London.
Ferguson said: "I'm at Bologna thanks to Aaron Hickey. The first time we spoke in the national team I asked Hickey a hundred questions. He told me that Bologna was the right place to grow, that nothing is missing there and I would enjoy it. He was absolutely right. My teammates still don't understand my accent! But I am making progress in Italian lessons."
