Angelo Balanta on signing for United
We spoke to Angelo Balanta on Wednesday morning about what he wants from the next six months, and beyond, now that he has signed for Carlisle United."I know Keith [Curle] from my time at QPR," he told us. "I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and he said that he was interested in me coming here.
"When he spoke to me he said he wanted me to come here and get playing again. That was a major factor in the deal going through."
"I got offered a contract at Bristol Rovers but I wanted to move on to get more game time," he explained. "I didn't think I got enough game time last year so that was why I wanted to move on.
"I moved to Yeovil for another loan and got promoted with them. My contract at QPR finished after that, which is when I went to Bristol Rovers. I had another successful year and we got promoted again.
"My career has been ok so far but I've dropped down the levels and I want to make my way back up. Hopefully I can show the club what I'm about and we can do that together.
"I had a few injuries while I was at MK Dons and they ruled me out here, there and everywhere. It was a stumbling block for me and I want to turn that round now. Keith has given me the opportunity to do that and I want to repay him.
"I'm very excited about the new challenge. It's down to myself with regards to how much I want it. I really want it to go well, so hopefully I can earn myself a longer deal and I'll be here for a long time."
"I'm here to show everyone what I'm capable of doing. I want to progress myself and the club and hopefully we can fight for promotion this season."
On the type of player we can expect to see, he said: "I'll bring a lot of creativity and hopefully a lot of goals and assists for the strikers. I'm a creative player.
"I'll play wherever the manager wants me to because I just want to be out there. I've spent most of my career on the left wing but I can play on the right or behind the striker.
"I'll play wherever the manager wants me to because I just want to be out there. I've spent most of my career on the left wing but I can play on the right or behind the striker.
"The manager has told me he wants the team to play football and I think I can be a part of that. He wants me to enjoy it and I think, if that happens, I'll get the best out of myself."
"The location of the club didn't come into the decision making process at all," he told us. "As soon as I was given the opportunity I wanted to grab it with both hands because I just want to play football. I'm at that age where I want to kick on and, like I say, hopefully I can do that here.
"You don't get too many opportunities in football. I've got another one here and I just want to get it right. The short term deal suits both parties and it gives me a ladder to climb on. It's down to me to grab it with both hands and hopefully earn a longer deal by playing games.
"It does help you to focus but I'm not here to mess around. I'm here to do my best for the club and myself. The harder I work the more likely I am to earn a longer deal, so that's what I'll be trying to do."
"You don't get too many opportunities in football. I've got another one here and I just want to get it right. The short term deal suits both parties and it gives me a ladder to climb on. It's down to me to grab it with both hands and hopefully earn a longer deal by playing games.
"It does help you to focus but I'm not here to mess around. I'm here to do my best for the club and myself. The harder I work the more likely I am to earn a longer deal, so that's what I'll be trying to do."
"Pre-season is always difficult and I've worked with Keith before so I knew what to expect," he said. "I'm looking forward to it because it's only going to benefit myself and the players. Everyone hates the running but it's part of the job and, before you know it, the games come along and the running is over.
"I came up for training on Tuesday so I've got to know a few of the lads already. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone over the next few weeks. I knew Jabo [Ibehre] from MK Dons and I've played against some of the others."
Looking back at his career ahead of this move, he said: "I started at QPR and I signed my pro deal at 17. It started off well. I was involved in the first team and I played a few games.
"I then went out on loan to MK Dons but we unfortunately didn't get promotion during the time I was there.
"I moved to Yeovil for another loan and got promoted with them. My contract at QPR finished after that, which is when I went to Bristol Rovers. I had another successful year and we got promoted again.
"My career has been ok so far but I've dropped down the levels and I want to make my way back up. Hopefully I can show the club what I'm about and we can do that together.
"I had a few injuries while I was at MK Dons and they ruled me out here, there and everywhere. It was a stumbling block for me and I want to turn that round now. Keith has given me the opportunity to do that and I want to repay him.
"I'm very excited about the new challenge. It's down to myself with regards to how much I want it. I really want it to go well, so hopefully I can earn myself a longer deal and I'll be here for a long time."
United Player subscribers can see a video interview with Angelo Balanta now. Click HERE to go to the Player platform. Follow the same link for more information on United Player, and to subscribe.
Click HERE to see a clip from this interview on our YouTube channel. Follow the same link for more FREE content right from the heart of the club.