Jules Koundé explains why he turned down Chelsea
Barcelona's defender Koundé has explained his reason for snubbing Chelsea during summer transfer window
Former Sevilla center-back Jules Koundé was on the verge of joining Chelsea during the summer transfer window before opting for Barcelona on a five-year deal after the La Liga giant hijacked the proposed move to the Premier League.
The French international, who was understood to be Thomas Tuchel's preferred replacement for Antonio Rüdiger, was keen on joining the Premier League side after talks with Sevilla before shifting his focus to Barcelona.
His move to Barcelona was shocking news to Chelsea supporters, who expected him to join them following two seasons of talks with Sevilla, demonstrating their genuine interest in the player.
In a recent interview, the 23-year-old explained his reasons for turning down Chelsea for Barcelona, citing speeches from Thomas Tuchel and Barcelona manager Xavi.
"Then there was the conversation with the coach," Koundé said in an interview. "We talked about football, mainly." I felt a real confidence from him that he had a real knowledge of myself, my game, and my qualities."
"I spoke with Tuchel, and I also felt that he wanted me to come, but I simply preferred Xavi's speech."
Jules Koundé became Barcelona's fifth summer signing when he joined the Catalans, following Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessié, and Andreas Christensen.
Despite missing two of Barcelona's first games due to the club's inability to register him because of La Liga financial fair play restrictions, Koundé has established himself as an important member of Xavi's team, featuring in three of Barcelona's last four La Liga games.
Known for his attacking-minded play, the defender has three assists in his five appearances for the Catalans, giving him an advantage in Xavi's starting eleven.
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Despite competition from Andreas Christensen and Uruguayan Ronald Araújo in the defensive position, the Frenchman will hope to get more minutes to contribute to Barcelona's hunt for trophies.
Barcelona have had a perfect start to the season, going undefeated in six straight La Liga games. The Catalans, who embarked on a rebuilding project under Xavi, have demonstrated strong character this season and are ready to compete for trophies with rivals Real Madrid.
After losing 2-0 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the Spanish club bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Elche in the Spanish La Liga, and they will hope to continue their excellent form when they return from the international break.