Iwobi Opens up on how his Hairstyle, Fashion and Music have Helped Him Alex Iwobi is speaking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo has actually assisted his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier League season so far. ‘Yeah, that in fact plays a part (in expressing myself),’ the Fulham midfielder states. ‘My father’s in your house and he’s most likely heard me. He didn’t like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn’t wish to cut it off so I thought let’s do something different that no one else has. I actually told the hair stylist to ‘reveal yourself’ but not too wild. It’s wild since it’s red and purple at the moment however I like it. My papa’s accepted it now so I’m simple.’ It’s a plain contrast from the short-haired 19-year-old who made his Arsenal debut under Arsene Wenger in 2015. Iwobi firmly insists that he’s always had the state of mind of feeling like there’s more to life than football however has actually just revealed himself more over the last few years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing songs and introducing his charitable foundation, Project 17. ‘It’s constantly been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in fashion. But it’s only 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 states. Alexi Iwobi has made his finest start to a Premier League season with 5 objectives in 15 matches The 28-year-old states his multi-coloured braids have actually contributed to his on-pitch enhancement It’s a stark contrast from the short-haired teenager who made his debut under Arsene Wenger This weekend, the 28-year-old will have his work eliminated as Fulham take on 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 complimentary in a regional supermarket. what Liverpool resemble – it’s going to be an extreme video game however whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will exist on Sunday,’ Iwobi stresses. ‘In the house I was raised in, my father naturally just returned. To individuals in Nigeria, to his family and even people in the street – he would simply purchase bottles of water and offer them to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and daddy are has motivated me to offer to others, whether they are fortunate or less fortunate. With the position I remain in, I seem like it’s only right with the influence I have that I return as well.’ Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi believes is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has actually currently scored more goals than in any other season, with 5 in the league for a Fulham side that is simply 2 points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest. ‘As a youngster you want to do your finest to impress the manager and desire everyone to know you are totally focused on football. But it (flexibility) includes age, being complimentary and not being pushed about unfavorable remarks. If it’s useful, you don’t mind the criticism,’ he states. ‘You have to be strong mentally. Players do well when they’re positive and with me, feeling positive to express myself on and off the pitch, I nearly feel unstoppable. And when you have people that back you, it truly plays a part.’ Among those people that backs him is Marco Silva, who signed Iwobi for ₤ 35M at Everton from Arsenal in 2019, and didn’t think twice 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 ‘finest season in the Premier League so far’ and he agrees. The 28-year-old will feed 100 families on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17 Iwobi insists that he’s constantly had the state of mind of sensation like there’s more to life than football Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his debut tune ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November launched a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ ‘I have actually been included in a lot of goals, contributing a lot, and defensively I have actually been working well. You might state it’s my best start to the season – I just have to keep it going and make sure it’s my finest season. That’s the objective’ says Iwobi, who credits Silva for providing him ‘the license to reveal’ himself. ‘It’s good to have a supervisor who provides you the confidence to do that,’ he states. Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching song ‘Don’t Shoot’ and in November released a follow-up ‘What’s Luv?’ which is described as an event of his African roots with a mix of Afro-Swing blended with Rap”. It’s likewise a tune that Silva’s enjoying in the dressing room, with Fulham making their finest start to a top-flight season because 2003-04. ‘I do not get it on in the dressing room but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he just can’t assist himself, Iwobi exposes. ‘He is tapping the supervisor to listen to the song. The very first time he (Silva) heard ‘What’s Luv?’ he was just vibing like, ‘is this Alex?’ and Calvin was like ‘yes it’s Alex!’ He said it wasn’t bad. I understand the very first time he didn’t understand what was stated but he enjoyed the beat. So it’s a win-win. ‘Everyone vibes with it and I’m having great feedback from the team – even individuals who don’t speak English as their very first language like the Brazilians, they’re vibing as well,’ adds Iwobi. Silva’s plan at Everton was to construct around the midfielder however he was sacked 4 months after signing Iwobi. Then Carlo Ancelotti played him out of position while Rafa Benitez barely played him at all. Iwobi would travel across 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 in 2015. ‘Everyone’s frame of mind is one for all and all for one so that’s definitely helping us this season. We’ve been having team meals and bonding and that’s brought a lot of togetherness, states Iwobi. Marco Silva initially signed the Nigerian at Everton then brought him to Fulham later in 2023 Iwobi will have his work eliminated as Fulham handle 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), came back then went once again with the Tottenham and Brighton results. We seem like we’re all set to fly and we can do anything together.’ Another team meal is arranged for midweek ahead of a run of 3 video games in seven days over Christmas. ‘The gaffer desires to take us out. That’s another little bit of complimentary food so I’m not complaining,’ jokes Iwobi. ‘It’s truly great. It’s like one huge household.’ But initially, Fulham will head to Anfield with belief, having taken points from Arsenal recently and directly losing at Man City in October in a game where Pep Guardiola had plenty of credit for Fulham. ‘It shows we have the ability to contend with anybody. We are not scared. Hopefully it will be the same against Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,’ Iwobi firmly 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