Blaise Matuidi is delighted to be at Juventus, saying it was ‘better to move late than never’ after a transfer fell through last year.
The midfielder played 70 minutes of last night’s 4-0 derby win over city rivals Torino and is settling into life with the Old Lady following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking to Sky Sport, the Frenchman revealed his happiness to have joined the Serie A champions and expressed his desire to stay in Turin for years to come.
Blaise Matuidi is delighted to be at Juventus, saying it was ‘better to move late than never’ after a transfer fell through last year.
The midfielder played 70 minutes of last night’s 4-0 derby win over city rivals Torino and is settling into life with the Old Lady following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking to Sky Sport, the Frenchman revealed his happiness to have joined the Serie A champions and expressed his desire to stay in Turin for years to come.
“I had already been in contact with Juventus the previous year, but for various reasons the transfer didn’t happen,” Matuidi explained.
“As they say, better late than never. Now I am here, I’m very happy and I hope to stay for a long time.
“Choosing to come here was natural, Juventus is a world class club and a team that has won so much and still has so much left to win.”
The 30-year-old added that his international teammates, as well as France Coach Didier Deschamps, encouraged him to accept Juve’s offer.
“My international teammates had spoken to me a lot about it, like Evra and Pogba, as well as my national team Coach Deschamps.
“I am adapting well, I have been welcomed in the best possible way and I am proud to be a part of this group.
“I already knew a little Italian and that made everything easier in terms of understanding the Coach’s orders and my teammates’ advice.”
Matuidi described new teammate Paulo Dybala as one of the best players in the world.
“Dybala is a great player, one of the best in the world. We are lucky to have such an exceptional teammate.
“Hopefully he can carry on in this way.”
The midfielder is convinced that Dybala’s fellow Argentine Gonzalo Higuain will come good after a slow start to the season in front of goal.
“Higuain, like every forward, needs to score but it’s part of every player’s career to have moments in which they score less.
“He will definitely score a lot this year and help us achieve our aims.”