Wed Sep 11, 2024 5:10 pm
Cardiff City defender Will Fish says he made the decision to swap Manchester United for south Wales in a bid to make a name for himself.
The centre-back completed a move to the capital last month, signing on a permanent deal from the Red Devils for a fee believed to be around £1m.
He's yet to make his debut since signing for the Bluebirds, but is bidding to make a big impact under Erol Bulut, having attracted the attention of several clubs over the summer.
“I had it in the back of my head that I was open to leaving on a permanent deal, and making a name for myself," Fish said when looking back on his recent move for The Athletic.
"There were several Championship clubs interested and I went to have a look at a few, including Cardiff. There was also interest from MLS, a big club in Scotland and a club in Portugal.
"I got to the point where I had to decide on which club I wanted to join, otherwise the interested parties would move on to whoever was next on the list. I chose Cardiff City. Big club, fanbase, city and stadium, and a club that has been in the Premier League recently.
"I liked their vision after speaking to the manager, Erol Bulut, a few times. He gave me a confidence and I felt really wanted. That’s the biggest thing you can have in football from a player’s perspective.
"I agreed to join Cardiff on the Monday (August 19). On Tuesday, I went to say goodbye to everyone at Carrington. I waited until I knew it was happening and went to say goodbye, which was tough. I’d been at Man United for 15 years and some of the staff I knew had been there since I started.
"There was a mix-up over some of the paperwork, so I couldn’t fully sign until Friday morning, which is when I met my new team-mates for the first time. They were all sound. It seems like a good changing room."
Fish has also praised the club for helping to look after him as he looks to settle into his new life, adding that the influence of one senior star has been particularly impressive.
"There are a lot of experienced players, Aaron Ramsey, Calum Chambers, Anwar El Ghazi and Callum Robinson, who’ve played at the top level. Aaron, who loves the club, told me that I’d enjoy Cardiff.
"I’m looking forward to the lads getting back from the international break and training with them. I’m not going to get straight into the team but I’ve got to do the best I can — try to get into the team and stay in it."