The French international defender was presented at Camp Nou on Monday.
«We’ll go as high as possible“said Jules Koundé, French international central defender who arrives at the Blaugrana club”with ambition“, during his presentation Monday as a new player of FC Barcelona.
«I am very happy, very proud. I’m coming to a big club, an ambitious club, and I’m also coming with ambition“, reassured the former Girondin during his first press conference as a Blaugrana player, Monday afternoon at the training center of the Catalan club.
According to the Spanish press, Barça paid 50 million euros, with 10 million in bonuses, to recruit the defender, who also seemed very close to Chelsea. He signed up for the next five seasons.
«It’s true that I had another offer. But I made the effort to wait for Barça to come to an agreement with Sevilla. When I saw it was possible, I chose Barça because I knew very clearly where I wanted to go. (…) It was not a big effort, because I wanted to come here“, explained Koundé.
The player also agreed that his “knowledge of La Liga will facilitate (his) adaptation. The most important thing will be to adapt to the style of Barça“, he added. In contact with coach Xavi for many weeks, Koundé was one of the Catalan club’s priority targets for this summer transfer window.
«These were very fluid conversations. From the start, I felt the kindness of the coach, I felt that he wanted me to come. It was one of the keys, because it’s one of the most important steps in my career. He asked me to continue doing what I was doing in Sevilla: being aggressive, going out with the ball from our side… my strengths. And commitment, too“revealed Koundé.
The Frenchman, sitting alongside president Joan Laporta, arrives at a club with competition in his position, between Gerard Pique, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and Danish rookie Andreas Christensen.
«It’s true that there is competition, but it’s good for the team. The coach will decide, that does not concern me. Here I will have to grow, because I am still young, and help the team at all times. Competition, I take it as a challenge“concluded Koundé.
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