Sevilla chief José María Cruz de Andrés has told Sport Witness why the La Liga side turned down Chelsea’s approach for Jules Koundé last summer.
The Blues made an attempt for the defender towards the end of the 2021 summer window. The Spanish club’s sporting director, Monchi, had also confirmed receiving an offer from the west London club for the player.
A deal to take the France international to Stamford Bridge didn’t take shape and he spent the 2021/22 season with Julen Lopetegui’s side.
Sevilla general manager and secretary of the board of directors, José María Cruz de Andrés, has detailed the reason for the failure.
“The case with Jules Koundé is very similar to the case of Diego Carlos. Not in the timing because we received offers for Jules Koundé in the last two seasons but always in the summer market,” he told Sport Witness.
“We have rejected because we thought that this player can improve his performances. It was better to wait because the market at the time was depressing. We thought that waiting a while would [help us] obtain more money.”
It could be easier for Thomas Tuchel’s side to take the 23-year-old this summer because of the player’s ambitions for the future.
“Again, the player, I am sure, respects Sevilla FC. He is happy with us. In the case of Koundé, it is not a matter of money. It’s a matter of him wanting to play in a more competitive team than Sevilla FC,” the Spanish club’s general director explained.
“I am sure he is a player that is attractive for teams like Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and these types of teams. He wants to play in a more competitive team.
“It’s the same case we had some years ago with [Clément] Lenglet. He was very happy, but he thought after playing some years at Sevilla FC, he was prepared to go to FC Barcelona.
“The first time we received an offer for him was a season before he was transferred. He [Lenglet] and his father told us they didn’t to leave Sevilla then because they preferred to stay here and play a lot of matches.”
With Koundé keen to make the jump, Chelsea will have a new opportunity to secure the Frenchman’s services this summer, a year after they failed to sign him.
