Iwobi Open on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Helped Him Alex Iwobi is talking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairstyle has actually assisted his football in what he views as his best start to a Premier League season up until now. ‘Yeah, that actually plays a part (in expressing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder states. ‘My papa’s in the home and he’s probably heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t wish to cut it off so I believed let’s do something various that no one else has. I actually informed the hair stylist to ‘express yourself’ however not too wild. It’s wild due to the fact that it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My dad’s accepted it now so I’m easy.’ It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal launching under Arsene Wenger in 2015. Iwobi insists that he’s always had the state of mind of sensation like there’s more to life than football but has actually only revealed himself more in the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing songs and introducing his charitable structure, Project 17. ‘It’s always been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in style. But it’s just recently that I’ve been expressing myself a lot more, to show individuals that I am not simply a footballer. There is more to life, he says. Alexi Iwobi has made his best start to a Premier League season with 5 goals in 15 matches The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have added to his on-pitch enhancement It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired teenager who made his debut under Arsene Wenger This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work cut out as Fulham handle league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 families for Christmas as part of Project 17. For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his hometown, where whatever will be free in a local grocery store. ‘You know what Liverpool resemble – it’s going to be an extreme video game however whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will be there on Sunday,’ Iwobi tensions. ‘In your home I was raised in, my papa naturally just returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street – he would just purchase bottles of water and provide them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and father are has actually influenced me to offer to others, whether they are fortunate or less lucky. With the position I remain in, I feel like it’s only best with the influence I have that I offer back too.’ Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the secret to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually already scored more objectives than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is simply two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest. ‘As a youngster you want to do your best to impress the supervisor and desire everybody to understand you are totally focused on football. But it (flexibility) features age, being complimentary and not being pushed about negative comments. If it’s positive, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he says. ‘You need to be strong mentally. Players succeed when they’re positive and with me, feeling confident to reveal myself on and off the pitch, I practically feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it actually plays a part.’ One of those people that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t hesitate when he had the opportunity to bring him back to London on Deadline Day in 2015. After his brace versus Brighton last week, Silva said it was Iwobi’s ‘best season in the Premier League up until now’ and he concurs. The 28-year-old will feed 100 families on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17 Iwobi insists that he’s always had the frame of mind of sensation like there’s more to life than football Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ ‘I have actually been associated with a lot of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You might state it’s my best start to the season – I just need to keep it going and make sure it’s my best season. That’s the objective’ states Iwobi, who credits Silva for giving him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a manager who offers you the confidence to do that,’ he says. Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the first footballer to release a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is referred to as a celebration of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing blended with Rap”. It’s also a tune that Silva’s enjoying in the dressing room, with Fulham making their best start to a top-flight season since 2003-04. ‘I do not get it on in the dressing space however when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can’t help himself, Iwobi reveals. ‘He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the song. The first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was just vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin resembled ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He said it wasn’t bad. I understand the very first time he didn’t understand what was said but he enjoyed the beat. So it’s a win-win. ‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having excellent feedback from the group – even the people who do not speak English as their very first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing too,’ adds Iwobi. Silva’s plan at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but he was sacked four months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez hardly played him at all. Iwobi would travel throughout the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in disguise to enjoy his football once again. Now that delight has actually been discovered after his ₤ 22M move last year. ‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s definitely assisting us this season. We’ve been having group meals and bonding and that’s brought a great deal of togetherness, says Iwobi. Marco Silva first signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later on in 2023 Iwobi will have his work cut out as Fulham take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield ‘Even when Sander (Berge) and Joa (Andersen) signed, they took us out to eat. We arranged a trip to Paris to clear our heads (after the Wolves loss), returned then went again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We feel like we’re all set to fly and we can do anything together.’ Another team meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of three video games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer wishes to take us out. That’s another little bit of totally free food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly great. It’s like one big household.’ But first, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having taken points from Arsenal recently and directly losing at Man City in October in a video game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham. ‘It shows we have the capability to compete with anybody. We are not scared. Hopefully it will be the exact same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get an outcome,’ Iwobi insists. Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot’s league-leaders might well be hearing ‘What’s Luv’ blasting out from the away dressing room. FulhamAlex Iwobi