“We will go as high as possible”, said Jules Koundé, the international central defender of the Blues, who started football in Landiras and was trained at the Girondins de Bordeaux. He has just signed for 5 years in Barcelona. And it happens “with ambition”, he said during his presentation this Monday, August 1 to the press at the Catalan club’s training center. “I’m very happy, very proud. I’m coming to a big club, an ambitious club, and I too am coming with ambition,” assured the 23-year-old former Girondins de Bordeaux and Sevilla FC player. year.
Chelsea in the ranks
According to the Spanish press, Barça paid 50 million euros, with 10 million bonusesto recruit the defender, who also seemed very close to Chelsea. “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 that it was possible, I chose Barça because I knew very clearly where I wanted to go”. Jules Koundé also agreed that his “knowledge of La Liga” will make it easier to adapt.
In contact with coach Xavi for many weeks, the Landiras footballer was one of the Catalan club’s priority targets for this summer transfer window. “It was very fluid conversations. From the beginning I felt the kindness of the coach, I felt that he wanted me to come. That was one of the keys, because it is one the most important steps in my career. He asked me to continue doing what I was doing in Sevilla: being aggressive, getting the ball out from our side, my strengths. And commitment, too!”
Strong competition at Barça
The Frenchman, seated alongside President Joan Laporta, arrives at a club with competition for his position, between Gerard Piqué, 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 doesn’t worry me. Here I will have to grow, because I’m still young, and help the team at all times. The competition, I take that as a challenge.”