Kounde: “Xavi is a big part of me coming to Barca”

• The French central defender (23 years old) will become Barca‘s fifth signing of the summer after the agreement was reached for his transfer with Sevilla and highlighted the importance of the talks with the coach to accept the Barca offer

•  Official: principle of agreement Barca-Sevilla for Kounde

FC Barcelona announced this Friday a principle of agreement with Sevilla for the transfer of  Jules Kounde, so when the French central defender passes the medical review and signs his contract, he will become the fifth signing of the summer for the Barça team after the additions of Kessie, Christensen, Raphinha, and Lewandowski.

Jules Kounde (23 years old) arrived in Barcelona this Thursday after leaving Sevilla‘s concentration in Portuguese lands and could not hide his happiness after a long negotiation that kept him on edge in recent weeks.

“Hello cules, I’m here. Visca el Barca”, sentenced Kounde in his first statements to the Barca club’s media after landing in Barcelona.

Moments later, FC Barcelona shared more statements from Kounde and the Frenchman highlighted the importance of Xavi Hernandez in ending up signing for the Barca team, as well as being ambitious after confirming his arrival at the Camp Nou.

“Mr. Xavi is a big part of my arrival here. I have spoken with him several times and his speech has excited me a lot. The conversations were very fluid and I think we see football in the same way. I am going to arrive and hopefully do the maximum to have as many minutes as possible. Join the team well and have a lot of prominence in this club”, said Kounde, who also wanted to analyze how he is as a player.

“I am a dynamic footballer, with a lot of energy, also with a good ability to get the ball out and be very aggressive. Above all, I am a footballer who leaves everything on the field”, added the French international, who did not hide his desire to be able to meet his new teammates and start his stage at Barca.

“I want to win everything. I have goals, of course, but I don’t set limits for myself. On a collective and individual level, grow as much as possible and learn, because I come to a great club with great players and many have won a lot of things. I’m going to listen and learn and give the maximum”, said Kounde, who also revealed that his goal celebration is a reference to the ‘Black Mamba’ of Kobe Bryant, one of his idols.

After confirming the agreement with Sevilla, Jules Kounde must now undergo a medical review prior to his signing and then sign his contract with Barca, which aims to be for five seasons. His termination clause is also outlined to be 1,000 million euros, as in the renewals of the club’s young talents such as Pedri, Ansu, Araujo, or the recently signed Raphinha.