Sevilla goes down, Koundé goes up

Sevilla is trading lower after being eliminated from Europe and seeing how Real Madrid was moving away in the fight for the title and those behind are approaching it in an effort to retain second place. But In that small crisis, the French central defender Jules Koundé has continued to shine, almost more than ever, who has once again been summoned by Didier Deschamps and meets his team in this international break.

Without the help of Fernando or Diego Carlos, both injured for weeks, at his side, Jules has always scratched at a great defensive level and has even come back to encourage himself in attack with a lot of personality during the last matches. An aggressive center back, good on the cut and from above, who can also open opposing defenses when things get difficult. his good performances They do not go unnoticed in the statistics and for specialized transfer websites.

Transfermarkt gave it its highest market value at the end of last week, 60 million euros. And the CIES Observatory, which bases the appraisal of soccer players on the algorithm, considers that Koundé ‘costs’ between 70 and 90 million. The figures are based on what Sevilla will ask for next summer, the deadline to sell the French defender because Contract ends in June 2024.

At 23 years old, Chelsea was the great suitor last summer and wanted to return to the fray in last January, but the uncertain economic situation of the London club puts questions about the operation for the coming months. In England they have also monitored Koundé Manchester United and Liverpool, and in Spain Barcelona and Real Madrid were always attentive to their situation.

Meanwhile, the Parisian footballer continues to attend appointments with France and it seems that this time Deschamps will consider him in his natural position, that of central defender, and not as a right back, which is how the coach has used him more in the past. Koundé acknowledges having “doubts” when he made a mistake playing in that position. “He makes you doubt, sure, but I do not doubt my ability to impose myself in this group. I am confident in my qualities, in the work I do on a day-to-day basis to be there. The coach put a lot of trust in me by selecting me for the European Championship and by putting me in a position that was not mine. I tried to do my best. Now I’m in my position, so obviously more is expected of me. When it goes well, the better. When it goes wrong, criticism is completely normal.” he told AFP in another test of maturity despite his youth.