FC Barcelona coach Xavi said on Saturday that “the priority (was) to register (Jules) Koundé” for the trip to the field of Real Sociedad on Sunday during the second day of La Liga, while the French defender still hasn’t made his Barca debut.
“We wait. There’s still time until tomorrow night. For now, Koundé’s registration is pending“, However, nuanced Xavi in a pre-match press conference.
Koundé still has to wait
Constrained by the salary cap set by La Liga, the body that manages professional football in Spain, Barça was able to register all its recruits to compete in the Spanish championship, except Koundé.
«But I find it good. He is a natural leader, he communicates a lot, he excels in ball exits. We have a great rookie. But there, we need players to leave to be able to register Koundé“, explained the Catalan technician.
«I told him what I wanted from him. He gained experience with Sevilla, he’s a great football player, but at Barça, you have to prove it in every game. Every match is an exam. If he stands up to the pressure and keeps that mentality, he will be a great footballer, now and in the future.“, praised Xavi, who sees it”more like a central defender, but he can also play as a full-back».
Three starting players
According to the Catalan press, Barça is currently working on several departures, including those of Memphis Depay (to Juventus Turin), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (to Chelsea) or even Frenkie de Jong (to England too).
«We’ll see what will happen. I count on them tomorrow, they could be decisive. For the moment, no one has left yet, and we can play them tomorrow. But the priority is to register Koundé“, underlined Xavi.
The Catalan technician also deplored the fact that the season resumed before the end of the transfer window. “The players should be focused on the game. The transfer window should end when the championships resume. Otherwise, you are never quiet to work. You prepare for the week by counting on a player, and overnight he can leave. This is not the ideal scenariol.»