Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has revealed he looked up to both Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo when he was growing up.
Having joined the Blues at Under-8 level, Abraham scored goals against every age group and has now brought that skill to the senior side, firing ten goals in his first 12 Premier League games this season.
Speaking on Chelsea’s 5th Stand app, Abraham revealed that it was not just the two players’ goalscoring which appealed to him, but also the mentality and way in which they carried themselves on the pitch.
“[Henry] was one of my biggest idols growing up,” he explained. “I loved his style, the way he played and the way he carried himself on the pitch.
“I even loved his goal celebrations! They were really cool and he’s just someone I’ve always looked up to.”
The Arsenal legend – and new Montreal Impact manager – is widely viewed as one of the finest players in Premier League history, and so is Ronaldo, and Abraham confessed he would love to meet the Juventus forward one day.
“I’ve grown up loving [Ronaldo] and it’s amazing that he’s still going strong today. He’s hardworking and so professional. He looks like a nice guy, even though I’ve never actually met him myself, and he looks like the sort of person that just wants to win, which is a mentality I have.”
Watching the two players has clearly paid off for Abraham. Many had doubts about whether the 22-year-old was ready to lead the line for a club like Chelsea, but he has proved his doubters wrong in emphatic fashion.
He currently sits second in the Premier League scoring charts this season, behind only Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.
His electric form has earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, and Abraham justified that faith by netting his first goal for the Three Lions in Thursday’s 7-0 win over Montenegro.
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