Yahoo News Aston Villa's Amadou Onana reveals dream link-up after embarking on surprise career
Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana has launched a music career to help him switch off from football and refocus on his performances in training and on matchdays.
The Belgian is looking to break into the world of rap and R&B as 24AM, and recently released his first song, 'Check on me', which is available to listen to on streaming platforms. He promoted the track on Instagram with the caption: "My first ever track, who would’ve thought, huh? Be whoever you wanna be, that’s all that matters."
Onana joined Villa from Everton for a club record £50m earlier this summer and is the latest high profile footballer to make a foray into the music business. Four years ago, Villa defender Kortney Hause released a song titled 'Worth It', generously donating all proceeds from the song to the NHS and the battle against coronavirus.
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"It is something that helps me switch off and allows me to think of something else," Onana said about his music in an interview with Sky Sports. "I don’t think it is healthy to think 24/7 about football, you need to have hobbies and things to do outside of football which can help you reconnect and focus when you come back for training or games.
"It’s something I like to do. It’s part of me and my creativity. I hope what I have done can inspire someone else and their personality. I’ve just always been singing and I’m quite a loud guy in my family.
"As long as I am happy with who I am and I know where I am going, that’s all that matters. Whoever says whatever about me, I couldn’t care less. I’m just going to be myself.
"I just feel like we all have an opinion which everyone is entitled to, but they can forget that we are human beings as well. Football doesn’t define you, but it’s my job. It’s the most important thing because it is my career, but it’s not who I am, it’s what I do."
He added: "I think the song says a lot about me and my career path. I haven’t had the normal career path where it is all nice. I have had people telling me I wouldn’t make it pro, I’m not even talking about Premier League football, just speaking about actually being a professional football.
"It’s only the beginning. I’ve got loads more [music] coming but I will take my time. I think as much as sometimes social media can be bad, it can be beneficial too for you footballers to show what they can do aside from football."
Asked if he has a dream collaboration in mind, Onana responded: "Anyone. I listen to a lot of music, rap, R&B, Ed Sheeran too. He’s an unbelievably talented guy."
