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Seville: Jules Koundé, the prince already king of Andalusia

2021-02-16T17:19:25.059Z


Before facing Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, Sevilla FC take advantage of the explosion of Jules Koundé. Barça and Real are already sharpening their knives to recruit the French defender.


"Koundé turned into Messi."

The Catalan newspaper

Mundo Deportivo

dared the comparison on February 11, after the fantastic ride of the former Bordeaux.

In the semi-final first leg of the Copa del Rey, Jules Koundé "entered the Barcelona defense like butter", describes the Madrid daily

AS

.

The 22-year-old Frenchman mystified world champion Samuel Umtiti with a big bridge before opening the scoring to show the way for Seville (2-0).

An explosive initiative for a central defender.

But it is Koundé in the text.

The audacity of a boy already a man ready to step out of his comfort zone.

The bet was risky in the summer of 2019. Sevilla FC makes the native of Paris, 20 years and a season and a half with the Girondins as an experience, the biggest transfer in its history: 25 M €.

He sets down his bags at the same time as another Ligue 1 player: the Brazilian Diego Carlos, who comes out of three seasons in Nantes to form a defense with a very French accent in Andalusia.

The adaptation is enlightened.

Sevilla finished 4th in La Liga and won the Europa League.

“Sevilla, it was the perfect club for me, rejoiced Koundé at the microphone of

RMC Sport

, after the victory in the final against Inter Milan (3-2).

I knew I had the confidence of the coach and that of the club.

I arrived at a club that had big ambitions and played to win. ”

From the height of his small 78 meter for a defender, Koundé has established himself as one of the most difficult players to eliminate in Spain.

Koundé's goal against Barça on February 10 (2-0)

At the gates of the French team

His reading of the game and the excellent use of his body to win the duel, on the ground or in the air, transforms the evenings of the attackers into ordeal.

Quick and comfortable with the ball, Koundé spreads serenity and calm around him despite his young age.

"He is a very young player who has a lot of talent," complimented his coach Julen Lopetegui last week.

But beyond the physical and technical capacities required at the top level, which is so demanding, I have always said that the most important thing is the mind.

He must continue to grow and learn. ”

Words that Didier Deschamps would not deny, impressed but moderate last October.

"He is a player who is constantly progressing, but he is evolving in a sector with very strong competition," replied the coach of the France team on a possible call from Koundé.

The main interested party made "obviously" the Blues a "goal".

"I know there is a lot of competition and that's good, it boosts, it motivates", he bid at the microphone of

Canal +

.

Koundé likes challenges.

Above all, he raises them.

On October 4, 2020, he touched 92 balls on Barça's lawn, a record figure for an opposing central defender at Camp Nou.

A statistic which illustrates its importance in the Sevillian game.

The Frenchman goes beyond his function as a simple defender, an essential quality to establish himself at the highest level in modern football.

92 - Jules Koundé touched 92 balls against Barcelona last night, a record for a central defender against the Blaugrana at Camp Nou in a La Liga game since Opta analyzed the competition (2005/06).

Awesome. @ Jkeey4pic.twitter.com / QjOlO7MRyq

- OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 5, 2020

The big test against Haaland

Two elements can lead Koundé to take a step forward: play the Champions League and sign with a club that wants to win it.

The C1, he will discover it for good this Wednesday, with the reception of Borussia Dortmund and the formidable Erling Haaland in the round of 16.

The transfer is already becoming clearer.

Mundo Deportivo

report that Barca have made inquiries about him.

The Catalans, like Real Madrid and Manchester United, could go on the offensive this summer.

But Seville has warned: it will be necessary to pay the release clause of Koundé, which oscillates between 75 and 90 M € according to the sources.

Sevilla had already turned down € 45m from Manchester City last summer.

The little Andalusian prince is cuddled as much as possible.

While waiting to see who will put the crown on his head.

Read also

  •  Champions League: in retro with Messi's perfect free kick against Liverpool

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-02-16

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