Alex Iwobi is speaking about the multi-coloured braids in his hair and how even his hairdo has helped his football in what he views as his finest start to a Premier League season up until now.
'Yeah, that in fact plays a part (in expressing myself),' the Fulham midfielder states.
'My papa's in the house and he's most likely heard me. He didn't like that I coloured my hair. I got bored and didn't want to cut it off so I believed let's do something various that nobody else has. I actually told the hair stylist to 'express yourself' but not too wild. It's wild due to the fact that it's red and purple at the minute but I like it. My papa'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 firmly insists that he's constantly had the state of mind of feeling like there's more to life than football but has only revealed himself more in current years, going to Paris Fashion Week, releasing singles and releasing his charitable structure, Project 17.
'It's always been my pastime to do music, charity work and things in style. But it's only just recently that I have actually been revealing myself a lot more, to reveal people that I am not just a footballer. There is more to life, he states.
Alexi Iwobi has made his best start to a Premier League season with 5 goals in 15 matches
The 28-year-old says his multi-coloured braids have actually 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 eliminated as Fulham take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday and on Sunday, he will be back in London feeding 100 households for Christmas as part of Project 17.
For one day, there will be an AleXpress in Canning Town, his home town, where everything will be complimentary in a regional supermarket.
'You understand what Liverpool resemble - it's going to be an intense game but whether I get constrain or have no hamstrings, I will be there on Sunday,' Iwobi tensions.
'In the home I was raised in, my papa naturally just returned. To people in Nigeria, to his family and even individuals in the street - he would simply buy bottles of water and provide to neighbours. Seeing how my mum and dad are has influenced me to provide to others, whether they are lucky or less lucky. With the position I am in, I feel like it's just ideal with the impact I have that I give back as well.'
Through these initiatives off the pitch, Iwobi thinks is the trick to his success on the pitch too. The Nigerian has already scored more objectives than in any other season, with five in the league for a Fulham side that is simply two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.
'As a child you wish to do your best to impress the manager and want everybody to understand you are fully focused on football. But it (flexibility) comes with age, being complimentary and not being pushed about negative comments. If it's positive, 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 great to express myself on and off the pitch, I almost feel unstoppable. And when you have individuals that back you, it truly plays a part.'
Among those individuals 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 chance to bring him back to London on Deadline Day last year. After his brace versus Brighton recently, Silva said it was Iwobi's 'best season in the Premier League so far' and he agrees.
The 28-year-old will feed 100 households on Sunday for Christmas as part of Project 17
Iwobi firmly insists that he's always had the mindset of feeling like there's more to life than football
Earlier this year, Iwobi ended up being the very first Premier League footballer to release a single with his debut tune 'Don't Shoot' and in November launched a follow-up 'What's Luv?'
'I have actually been involved in a lot of objectives, contributing a lot, and defensively I have been working well. You might say it's my finest start to the season - I just have to keep it going and make certain it's my finest season. That's the objective' says Iwobi, who credits Silva for offering him 'the license to express' himself. 'It's nice to have a supervisor who offers you the self-confidence to do that,' he says.
Earlier this year, Iwobi became the first Premier League footballer to launch a single with his launching tune 'Don't Shoot' and in November released a follow-up 'What's Luv?' which is referred to as an event of his African roots with a blend of Afro-Swing mixed with Rap".
It's likewise a tune that Silva's enjoying in the dressing space, with Fulham making their finest start to a top-flight season given that 2003-04.
'I do not get it on in the dressing room but when you have team-mates like Calvin Bassey, he simply can't help himself, Iwobi reveals.
'He is tapping the manager to listen to the tune. The first time he (Silva) heard 'What's Luv?' he was simply vibing like, 'is this Alex?' and Calvin was like 'yes it's Alex!' He stated it wasn't bad. I understand the very first time he didn't understand what was stated however he delighted in the beat. So it's a win-win.
'Everyone vibes with it and I'm having good feedback from the team - even the people who don't speak English as their mother tongue like the Brazilians, they're vibing as well,' includes Iwobi.
Silva's plan at Everton was to develop around the midfielder but 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 take a trip across the M62 to Manchester and play seven-a-side with his mates in camouflage to enjoy his football again. Now that happiness has been uncovered after his ₤ 22M relocation in 2015.
'Everyone's mindset is one for all and all for one so that's definitely helping us this season. We've been having group meals and bonding which's brought a great deal of togetherness, states 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 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 prepared to fly and we can do anything together.'
Another team meal is organised for midweek ahead of a run of three games in 7 days over Christmas. 'The gaffer wants to take us out. That's another bit of totally free food so I'm not grumbling,' jokes Iwobi. 'It's actually good. It resembles one huge 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 lots of credit for Fulham.
'It shows we have the ability to compete with anybody. We are not terrified. Hopefully it will be the very same versus Liverpool. We are going there to get a result,' Iwobi insists.
Get something at Anfield and Arne Slot's league-leaders may well be hearing 'What's Luv' blasting out from the away dressing space.
FulhamAlex Iwobi