Koundé explains why he preferred Xavi’s Barcelona to Tuchel’s Chelsea
The transfer of Koundé was the current soap opera of the summer for Sevilla and the transfer market. The footballer was about to go to Chelsea and there was even an agreement in principle between the clubs, for 55 million euros plus five in variables. But finally he went to Barcelona, for 50 million fixed and 10 in performance variables.
He was startled that the will of the footballer, sometimes, is key. Especially in this case, in which Koundé already had the promise of Sevilla to meet a succulent offer after rejecting that of Chelsea from the previous summer and that of Manchester City two summers ago.
Now, in an interview on L’Equipe During his concentration with the France team, he explained the reasons for his choice. “I spoke with Tuchel and I also felt that he wanted to make me go, but I just preferred Xavi’s speech.”
And why did you prefer the Barcelona coach’s speech? “When I spoke with him (Xavi) he told me that my qualities match your game plan, starting from the back, playing highusing my qualities speed and anticipation. He saw me in this system and so did I, I saw myself in this team that I saw make a pretty crazy climb up the rankings.”
And he gave the example of how Barcelona evolved once Xavi took over the reins in the middle of last season. “With Sevilla we were fifteen points ahead in the middle of the season and Barça, with Xavi, had a superb second half of the season. I saw him play a lot, I saw the changes he made and what direction he was going. I liked it,” Koundé said.
In addition, the French international assures that he already sees the Barcelona project well consolidated. “I come to a project that I would not call reconstruction, because we already have a competitive team, if not a rebound. I was interested be part of this new wave, in search of titles, and put Barça back where it has always been, among the best. Then there was the conversation with the coach. We talk about football, mainly. I felt real confidence, real knowledge of my game and my qualities,” argues the former Sevilla player.