Nigel Pearson says he was instantly struck by Anis Mehmeti's burning desire to succeed after a series of career knockbacks gave him the new Bristol City arrival extra motivation to reach the top.
Mehmeti had been on the Robins radar for some time and the club moved swiftly to get the deal over the line after learning of his availability. City concluded the business with Wycombe Wanderers very much under wraps by matching a release clause in his contract believed to be in the region of £1million.
The 22-year-old arrives in a BS3 with a glowing reputation following his two-and-a-half-years with the Chairboys and is likely to take the position on the left of Pearson's front three following the sale of Antoine Semenyo to Bournemouth. Although Mehmeti's rise to the Championship has not been straightforward.
His youth career took him from Fulham to Tottenham and Norwich City before dropping into the Essex Senior League with Woodford Town in 2017. In September 2020, he finally got his break with Wycombe and has continued to go from strength to strength driven by a combination of his ability and mentality.
"When you meet him you can see there is a fire burning somewhere that he wants to succeed and we have to harness that," Pearson said in his press conference ahead of Saturday's Championship encounter with Preston North End. "One of the things that is a very important factor in his story is just how driven he is. He's had knockbacks and played non-league football to get a route back in.
"He's done well at Wycombe, he's a very talented footballer whose back story gives him an added bit of spice to his own mentality and desire to get to the top of the game. That's an asset and quality that's very important. Technically he's a gifted player - he'll give us a different type of option, but he's a very, very ambitious young man.
"He'll fit into our system straight away. Anis brings something different so I'm just really happy that we're able to add a different type of player but he's a very good and intelligent footballer who works hard."
Pearson first stated his intentions to sign a maverick-type player earlier in the season after missing out on a deal to sign Reda Khadra over the summer. He has maintained that stance and Mehmeti ticks the boxes of a player who has the technical ability to change a game in an instant with a moment of magic.
While Mehmeti's technique and creativity will undoubtedly get the fans on their feet, the player's humble background means he is desperate to make the most of his opportunity on his journey to the top. As Ainsworth mentioned to Bucks Free Press, he was "released here, there and everywhere" further stating "he's a boy who hasn't had it easy and he didn't live in the fanciest of houses in London."
"Whether Anis is a maverick or not, maybe he is, but what I like when I first met him was the intensity he has to succeed," Pearson added. "When you know his family background and football story so far, having had to deal with disappointments of rejection, he's had to work hard to get him back not only to a position where he's getting back to playing in the Championship, he wants to be a top player.
"He's Albanian and he's here with his mum, dad and brother and they're a very close-knit family. The Balkans regions had plenty of upheavals over a long period of time so it doesn't take a lot to understand the complexities and those types of pressures and that background.
"His heritage means a lot to him and his family means a lot to him in his life and he's a very driven young man. That is something that I like.
"Ambition is something which I think we need to harness. it's not about trying to give a dose of realism to young players who are really ambitious - aim for the top. That's where you want to be.
"We need players in this building who want to succeed and want to be as good as they can be. On top of his technical ability and what we've learned about him because he's been on the radar for a considerable time.
"When deals become doable it's important to explore them. I've said this window is not my favourite because you can pay over the odds for people but we were able to come to an agreement which is very fair.
"Wycombe were brilliant with him as well and Gareth (Ainsworth) was very cooperative and supportive of the lad's ambition and I think that is in a similar way with us and Antoine, when things become possible we have to explore whether they are doable. We were able to come to an agreement."
Joining Mehmeti on transfer day was forward Harry Cornick who arrived for a low six-figure fee from Luton having entered the final six months of his contract. It represented a shrewd bit of business with the 27-year-old boasting plenty of Championship experience to add to City's exciting options in attack.
Pearson hinted that Cornick, who can play anywhere across the front three, will be utilised in that manner ahead of his expected debut at Preston on Saturday. He added: "He's coming into his prime and he will be stronger, fitter and he's already had a session this morning with Euelly (Jason Euell) out there.
"You can see there is a good level of competition within that area of the team and I think that is healthy because it keeps everyone on their toes. He's a good athlete, he's a really good runner, he brings us pace and energy and a player who is available.
"He plays a lot of games and he can get better too, He has been utilised in different roles and I'm not ruling that out from happening here but because we are playing with a front three and one in behind, there are a lot of permutations that we can use and it's good to have those options and competition to keep everyone on their toes. Tommy (Conway) can't wait to get back but he will have to be patient. We have some interesting options."
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