Talks about Saudi transfer for the first time
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In the summer, Kingsley Coman left FC Bayern after ten years for Al-Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo’s club paid 25 million euros for the services of the 29-year-old, who spoke for the first time about his departure from Munich in an interview with “L’Équipe”. “At the very end of the transfer, there were a few things – which I don’t want to mention – that complicated the situation. I wasn’t pressured to leave, but I was told that the club was open to leaving due to its financial situation,” said Coman.
Last season, the Frenchman was involved in 15 goals in 45 games and was in the starting line-up 24 times. At the Club World Cup, his last appearances for FC Bayern, he was allowed to start in four of five games. Nevertheless, the farewell followed. “I had the love of the coach, the fans, some people in the club’s management… but not everyone. A part of the club wanted me to leave. And that part bothered me a lot. But I will come back to say goodbye because I spent almost ten years there and this club is still very close to my heart,” explained the winger.
At his new club, Coman has eight scorers in nine games. These performances prompted France coach Didier Deschamps to nominate him again. “I played in Europe for ten years and I’ve only been here for a month. You don’t lose your qualities. I’m the same player as I was at FC Bayern. I won’t lose my level in a year either,” said Coman, who has had a difficult time for the Équipe Tricolore. Since the beginning of 2024, the 59-time national player has only made three appearances, each from the bench. At the 2024 European Championship, where France lost to Spain in the semi-finals, he was on the pitch for 15 minutes.
According to Coman, it is no disadvantage that after more than ten years at the highest European level he is now playing in the Saudi Pro League. “I see that we have a good squad and would be competitive in Europe. What’s better: playing 20 minutes at Bayern or playing all the games? I’m a leader. At Bayern I was a leader in the dressing room, but if you only play about every other game, you have less influence.” For the left wing, Bayern signed Luis Díaz from Liverpool FC two weeks before Coman’s departure as the top transfer of the summer. The Colombian arrived for 70 million euros and was involved in ten goals in his first ten appearances.
The Équipe Tricolore will face Azerbaijan in the World Cup qualifiers on October 10th, followed by a duel with Iceland three days later. If Coman plays, it would be his 60th international match – 38 professionals broke this mark before him. In the squad for the two games, only captain Kylian Mbappé wore the two-time world champion’s jersey more often.