Eric Choupo-Moting swapping Stoke for Paris Saint-Germain was one of the biggest surprises of the summer transfer window, and few would disagree with that statement.
Hardly the most prolific goalscorer at the bet365 Stadium, the Cameroon international had just come off a five goal season, two of which came against Manchester United, and is now expected to stand in for 89-goals-over-the-past-two-seasons Edinson Cavani.
Either way, he’s in Paris now, playing in Ligue 1, and has already scored a goal, bagging the third in a 3-1 away win against Rennes after coming off the bench in 78th minute.
Ahead of this weekend’s clash against Patrick Vieira’s Nice side, the forward spoke to the French press about his first few weeks with his new club, and, relayed by Le Parisien, explained how his transfer came about.
He said: “Thomas Tuchel had already contacted me a few months before, after the end of the season with Stoke. We’d kept in touch since Mainz. I learnt a lot with him. He contacted me and asked me if I thought about playing here. Playing for him and training for him. I told him yes, of course.
“It wasn’t a sure thing. I had to wait. I was focused on my preparation with Stoke. It happened on the last day. I’m very happy that it happened. He trusts me. I’m just really happy to be here”.
Warmly welcomed by the rest of the squad, Choupo-Moting already feels at home in Paris, able to speak French, English and German, and has been helped by the likes of Thiago Silva or Dani Alves when the need has arisen.
Knowing he might not get as many minutes as he did last year, the former Stoke forward is just ready to give it his all when he steps onto the pitch.
That’s why Tuchel brought him in, after all.
