Jules Kounde has claimed Barcelona are "the next step in his career" after turning down a move to Chelsea.
The Blues have long been linked with the former Sevilla man and are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements. Their interest in Kounde dates back 12 months and they've been linked with a move for the Frenchman and were confident of securing a deal.
At the eleventh hour though they have been toppled by Barcelona, who continue to invest heavily in their squad. The Spanish side know Kounde well having faced him numerous times domestically and the defender is determined to win as much silverware as possible at the Nou Camp.
He told club media: “I’m very proud and thankful for this opportunity. I’m very excited because I’m arriving at a great club and a great team. I’m really looking forward to playing with the team and getting to know my teammates. Sevilla is a great club, but Barca are the next step in my career at every level. Personally and in terms of football. I’m very excited and want to compete in every competition to win it. I will try and win as much as possible and that’s why I’m here.”
Kounde has claimed Europa League glory with Sevilla, but they have been unable to mount a meaningful challenge to the likes of Barcelona and both Madrid outfits. The Catalans are preparing for their first season with Xavi at the helm and the legendary figure played a key part in the switch.
The Frenchman added: “The coach Xavi is one of the great reasons why I’m here. I’ve spoken to him several times and the way he spoke was captivating. We had some good conversations, we see football in the same way. Now it’s a question of coming into the team, doing my best and getting as many minutes as possible.”
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Chelsea have already seen former defender Andreas Christensen swap west London for Catalunya. The Dane was able to leave for nothing once his contract expired, as did Antonio Rudiger, who moved to Real Madrid.
The Blues have been able to add Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli but are, ideally, in need of more new faces before the window closes. The Senegal star bolsters a backline that also includes Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Trevoh Chalobah.
Thomas Tuchel has questioned whether his side will be prepared for the new season recently following a pre-season defeat to Arsenal. He said: "We were simply not competitive. The worrying part is that the level of commitment physically and mentally for this match was far higher for Arsenal than for us. It was surely not our strongest lineup. This is a part of an explanation but only a little part... I cannot guarantee we will be ready in two weeks."
