The signing of Jules Koundé was not a whim of Xavi Hernández. Although it was the Egarense who insisted a lot for his arrival, the incorporation of the French defender was a strategic investment and also thinking about the long term. A great financial effort was made to bring him because he had a great offer from Chelsea, with whom Sevilla practically already had a closed agreement, but finally Barça took the lead.
A player with a lot of market, his name has appeared as one of those that the Barça club could sell to obtain resources. Nothing could be further from the truth. The sports management is counting on him for Hansi Flick’s new project and even president Joan Laporta himself said in the interview with Barça One that Koundé had had an “extraordinary” season. The Barça leader already said that there was no need to make “a big sale” and that the planning did not envisage getting rid of starting players.
At the end of the week his name was linked to Al-Ittihad, whose sports director is Ramon Planes, who for a time held this role at Barcelona. But the Saudi Arabian club has not contacted the Barça club or the footballer. Who they really wanted was Ter Stegen, although they were completely aware that the German goalkeeper would not leave Barça.
Koundé, happy and very adapted to Barcelona, is called to be one of the defensive pillars of Flick’s team, which also counts on him either to play as a center back or as a winger. Pau Cubarsí has all the numbers to go to the Paris Olympic Games and would arrive right at the beginning of the season. If Cancelo finally stays on loan for one more season, the Frenchman would have great numbers starting the season playing in his favorite position, center back. Koundé could be a very valid footballer for the German coach because of his intensity in the game and also because he has speed and tactical rigor. Now, if he must continue on the wing, the Frenchman will not have too many objections because he is more than adapted to the position.
Last season was not the best of his seasons. He was irregular and went through a major bump. But he ended up recovering and finished the exercise at a more than good level. His figures in his second year at Barcelona were the following: He participated in 35 League games, in which he scored a goal and gave two assists, in eight in the Champions League, in three in the Copa del Rey, a competition in which he featured the League numbers with one goal and two assists, and also played in both matches of the Spanish Super Cup.
2024-06-10 01:23:09
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