Fofana aims dig at Milan after ‘last minute’ exit: “My priority is always the people who want me”

Youssouf Fofana has recalled how his last-minute move to Sevilla came about following his exclusion from the plans at AC Milan.

It was a strange summer for Fofana, who probably expected to be given a look by the new head coach Ruben Amorim. However, he made it clear quite early on that the Frenchman is not a part of his plans, clearly not seeing him as a fit for the double pivot in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Fofana seemed to be heading for Lyon on deadline day, with the ‘here we go’ even arriving from Fabrizio Romano. However, everything collapsed at the 11th hour for financial reasons.Eventually, the midfielder ended up at Sevilla in the final minutes of the mercato.

After Christopher Nkunku took a bit of a dig in a press conference for RB Leipzig, it was time for Fofana to present himself to the Sevilla fans on Thursday. His words are via Calciomercato.com.

How are things going so far?

“It’s going well. I’m in a great team with great teammates who have welcomed me warmly. It wasn’t easy given the speed with which I had to prepare for the match, but I’ve adapted very well, playing a few minutes, and the staff has given me confidence.”

How did the move come about?

“It’s true that everything happened at the last minute, but when I received the first offer from Sevilla, along with my agents, everything happened very quickly because I was convinced I wanted to come here.

“My priority is always the people who want me on their team. I gave my word and in a few hours the deal was finalised.”

What made you choose Sevilla?

“It’s true that there were rumors and people talking about me in many teams, but in life, everything God does and disposes is positive and good. I had the opportunity to come to Sevilla after the Lyon affair, and I’m very happy with this opportunity. I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better.”

What would you tell the Fofana of the past?

“That’s a good question. I’d tell him to keep working and believe in his own efforts, because there was a moment when he thought about quitting, but I think in the end the effort was worth it and it paid off.”

Did Real Betis try too?

“There were a lot of rumors. The truth is, I’d like to thank my agents because it wasn’t easy at all. There were a lot of rumors, and they worked hard to distinguish the real opportunities from everything that was being said about me.

“I saw the news myself, but I personally can’t tell you about all the teams my agents spoke to because I only discussed something concrete with them, namely Sevilla, and nothing else.”

How far are you off 100% fitness?

“If I compare myself to the other players on the team, I’ve had half the preparation compared to the others, but that won’t be an excuse for me. I’ll try to give my all to be in top form. I always give 100% and I can’t give you a precise percentage.”