22 August 2017
AT A GREAT CLUB TO WIN
“I played against Juventus in the past and I have known this club for a long time, it felt quite natural for me to join and play for this club.
They know how to go far in the Champions League and to win Scudetti. I’m very happy to be here and play next to these great players.
Every club is different. Every club has its own culture. I’ve arrived in a new country and at a new club. The most difficult thing is to adapt, but I have great team-mates who have welcomed me in a great way.”
DESCHAMPS' INFLUENCE
“Even though I’d already decided to come here, I spoke to Didier Deschamps who is my coach for the national team. He gave me very positive and good information about Juventus.
I think that it was very important for me to change clubs in order to evolve, and I also have the World Cup to think about.
The number 14 that I’ve chosen is one that has been following me for years, so I have to say that it was a coincidence that I picked the same number that Deschamps wore at Juve.
If you consider that all the Frenchmen that have played for Juventus are all top players, that makes me especially happy. They all achieved a great deal here and it makes me feel positive about the future.”
MATCHING AMBITIONS
“Serie A is a competitive and great league with a high tactical level. It will be up to me to adapt to it and to improve as a player.
This is obviously a very ambitious club who always want to win. This compliments me as a person as I’m also very ambitious and I want to win all of the time.
It doesn’t make any difference where I play, because for the national team I played in a two-man midfield, and I played in a three for my club. Both positions are good for me, but it will be up to the coach, as will the tactics. I will accept any role that I’m asked to fill."
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
“When we have ambitions, we want to win as much as possible but it’s not that easy to put into practice, as in football many different things can happen, but it will be up to me to do my best on the pitch.
Everybody dreams of winning the Champions League but it’s not that easy, it requires a lot of work and a lot of effort, but we are one of the clubs that dreams to win. However, Serie A is also very important, and it will help us to perform better in the Europe.
The warm welcome I received was great, I arrived with my family and I hope that they will integrate. I’ve only heard very positive things about Italy, but I will be spending most of my time on the pitch and that's the main thing.
I found a very organised club here, everything is efficient and I have no worries about it. It’s a wonderful family and I’m happy to be here.
I think that it was better late than never to move abroad, it was part of my destiny. My destiny wanted me to join Juventus.
I was extremely determined to wear this jersey and I feel very honoured to wear these colours now.
Thank you, and Forza Juve!”
