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Willie Miller: Bologna move could be first step to the top of world football for Lewis Ferguson

Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson celebrates scoring against Celtic in February.
Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson celebrates scoring against Celtic in February.

Departing Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson has the qualities to fire him to the very top of world football.

Ferguson is set to complete a £3 million move to Italian top flight club Bologna.

It is a dream move for the midfielder and great business by Aberdeen, who have maximised Ferguson’s value.

This window was the right time for Ferguson to exit Pittodrie.

However, the 22-year-old must ensure this is not the last step up for him.

Scotland international full-back Aaron Hickey has shown shining in Serie A for Bologna can lead to a move to the English top-flight.

Lewis Ferguson in front at a training session in Spain. (Photo: Ross Johnston/Newsline Media)

Hickey was signed as a teenager by Bologna from Hearts in a £1.5m move in 2020 and has now transferred to Brentford in a £17m deal.

That has to be the route Ferguson must aim to follow as he has all the qualities to do that.

Hickey has shown what can be done.

That is not just a case of going over to the Italian Serie A and being happy with your lot.

Ferguson has to go over determined to impress at what is a very high level.

If he does that, the midfielder will be noticed by other clubs.

The fact Hickey used that route from Scotland to Italy and then the Premier League will certainly be in the minds of clubs and scouts in England.

I wouldn’t rule out seeing a further, bigger move for Ferguson as he has been a top performer for Aberdeen for four seasons.

He is an international player now and has all the qualities needed to be a success with Bologna in Italy.

Ferguson has real quality, grit, determination and can score goals.

A move to the Italian top flight was too good for the midfielder to turn down.

It is an exciting move for Ferguson as he will be going to a different league and facing legendary clubs like Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

Scotland’s Lewis Ferguson in action against Austria in Vienna.

Everything Ferguson has done so far with Aberdeen suggests he has a real maturity.

This window is the right time for Ferguson to move on to maximise the finances for Aberdeen. And also Hamilton, who will get a cut of the fee as they played a big part in the midfielder’s development as well.

Aberdeen could not allow Ferguson’s deal to run down as they would have lost the opportunity to maximise the financial return.

There is no doubt Ferguson will be missed at Aberdeen.

However, the Dons have had good service and value from him over the last four years.

The midfielder was the focus of much speculation over the last few seasons but still managed to be a top performer for the Dons.

He was top scorer last season with 16 goals.

Granted a lot of them were penalties, but you still need the nerve to take the spot kick and find the back of the net.

Ferguson’s move to Bologna is the second big money transfer from Aberdeen during the summer transfer window.

Teenage right-back Calvin Ramsay signed on at Euro giants Liverpool in a deal that could be worth up to £8m to the Dons.

Aberdeen secured an initial £4.5m with an additional £3.5m available in add-ons should Ramsay reach certain milestones at Anfield.

There is no doubt Aberdeen is now on the map with big clubs in both the UK and overseas.

Scouts across Europe will be looking towards Pittodrie.

The fact these big clubs are now looking at Pittodrie and willing to pay decent sums of money is testament to the Dons.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin and Calvin Ramsay
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin and Liverpool signing Calvin Ramsay.

They are obviously looking at these Aberdeen players as an investment.

Clubs are starting to take notice and that allows players like Ramsay and Ferguson to get life changing moves.

These are opportunities for Ferguson and Ramsay to chase their dream.

To get themselves noticed at high European and international level.

It is a huge chance that is not just good news for Ferguson and Aberdeen, but Scottish football in general as well.

Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson celebrates after he makes it 1-0 against Rangers in the League Cup semi-final.

Ramadani will be well worth the wait

Summer signing Ylber Ramadani is an established Albanian international and will definitely be worth the wait.

Ramadani finally met up with the Aberdeen squad on Monday for the first time – more than a month after signing.

The 26-year-old was secured from MTK Budapest on June 8 but it has taken almost five weeks to get him to Scotland.

I am sure Aberdeen fans will be excited at the prospect of seeing him perform.

Ramadani’s arrival in Scotland was delayed by Brexit red tape.

New signing Ylber Ramadani at Cormack Park. Supplied by AFC Media

Football is as open to these issues post Brexit as any other business.

The paperwork you have to go through as a result of no longer being in the European Union is more complicated.

I don’t think it is making it easy for administrators at football clubs.

Players like Ramadani and Bojan Miovski will also be getting frustrated that it taking so long.

Miovski also signed from MTK Budapest but it will be another week to 10 days before he arrives in Aberdeen as his visa is still be being processed.

The fact you have to go through all these legalities for visas is now just something clubs have to factor in.

It will be a learning process in the administration side for Aberdeen and a lot of hard work in pulling everything together.

Ramadani and Miovski were both unavailable for the 2-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat of Peterhead at Balmoor.

Aberdeen looked well prepared for the group clash against the Blue Toon and dominated the game.

They created opportunities and Christian Ramirez netted both goals.

To see Ramirez getting on the end of chances and taking on the responsibility to take the penalty was important.

The striker played with a smile on his face. He was a top performer for Aberdeen last season although he faded towards the end of the campaign.

Manager Jim Goodwin needs to have options up front.

Miovski is coming in and Ramirez has started off with goals.

It was a positive first game of the season and indicates there could be much to look forward to for Aberdeen supporters.

Aberdeen's Christian Ramirez celebrates after making it 1-0 against Peterhead
Aberdeen’s Christian Ramirez celebrates after making it 1-0 against Peterhead.

A fantastic character and great player

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of my former Aberdeen team-mate Davie Robb.

I have very fond memories of Davie the player, the person and the character.

He certainly goes down as a very important player in the history of Aberdeen football club.

I had the pleasure of playing with Davie who was a great character and a real fans’ favourite.

Davie was unorthodox but he was also a very good player who secured five caps for Scotland.

He scored that memorable winning goal against Celtic in the League Cup final in 1976.

Of course Davie also won the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen in 1970, beating Celtic 3-1 in the final at Hampden.

Davie was a huge personality within the dressing room.

My condolences to Davie’s family.

Aberdeen’s Davie Robb in the 1972/73 season.

I’m sure everyone who came across him at Pittodrie will have very fond memories of Davie.

He was something special and something different. He will be very sadly missed by many people.

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