It’s not necessarily about the best team, but the right team.
That’s the message that one of Fulham’s summer signings wanted to send out when talking about why he decided to join the Whites on loan.
Speaking over the weekend to Canal+ (via Le 10 Sport), French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola talked about the options that he had in the summer, and it would appear as if there was a more high-profile outfit that were also after the 6’5 stopper, with Champions League outfit Rennes also looking at him, except there was one key difference between the clubs that made his decision for him:
“There were discussions, but it was not clear. At one point, you had to be in your “humble” head, start from behind to be able to bounce back better. Of course, leaving Paris and Madrid, I certainly had opportunities, of the same caliber yes, but I needed this to be clear. Tell me: “you play, it’s you in the goal and now, we count on you. That’s all.”
Should the club loan out Rodak in January?
Yes
No
It’s somewhat weird to think that we can on occasion still cause a few upsets in the transfer market if we can lure someone away from a Champions League outfit like Rennes. And whilst playing time might have been a factor, for a team that is predicted to do poorly this season to convince someone who is on the fringes of the French national team to come to us is a major coup.
Now we just need to make sure that it’s made worth his while.
I spoke earlier today about how well he has been performing for us and as a result whether or not he’ll be likely to get back into the French squad ahead of next summer’s European Championship. His performances so far this season have arguably warranted it, and if he can just keep them up and make that team, then it will have been the right decision.
And hopefully he can help keep us in the Premier League in the process.
What about you? What do you make of Areola’s comments?