Xavi played key role in Jules choosing Barca over Chelsea

Jules Kounde

admitted that

Xavi Hernandez

played a key role in bringing him to

from

, saying how “important” it was that the manager of the club was pushing for the deal to get done.

The Blues were eyeing the defender for a long time and they were on the verge of closing a deal; however, Barcelona entered the competition for his signature and snapped him up.

This was the second time Barca frustrated Chelsea in the transfer market, as they also beat them in getting the signature of Raphinha from Leeds United, whereas they also penned a contract with Andreas Christensen, who hit free agency and departed Chelsea.

For the 23-year-old, however, Xavi had the crucial role in his decision.

"I had some good conversations with Xavi, he always expressed desire for me to come here, and that was important for me,"

he told a news conference.

"This is an important moment in my career, and in the conversations, he asked me to continue to do what I was doing in Sevilla, to continue to be aggressive, bring the ball out from the back, distribute, those are some of my strengths. 

"Barcelona is a great club, very demanding as well, and that's something that Xavi talked to me about."

Kounde will join other summer signings including Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Christensen and Franck Kessie fellow.

However, since he has played in Spain, the France international has an advantage as he can easily settle into the club.

"My knowledge of the league is going to make it easier to adapt as soon as possible, to adapt to the Barcelona style as well,"

he explained.

"My coach is obviously going to ask me to know my team-mates as well, and that's going to take time, but it won't be a problem.

"There is lots of competition, I think it's very good for the team. It's good to have a lot of competition in each spot; there are lots of games, of course.

"What I have to do here is grow and learn. I'm very young still, and I'm here to help the team at any given moment, whatever the coach asks of me and my team-mates.

"It's good that there is competition, I'm really looking forward to playing, and when there's competition, it's a challenge and that's great."

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