New Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhate has said that the welcome he has received at the club has been ‘perfect’ after completing a move to the City Ground.
The 26-year-old joined Forest earlier this month from Bundesliga side Mainz, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract with the option of a fourth. At the time, the centre-back was just the fourth new arrival of the summer, and has explained how a conversation with head coach Steve Cooper helped to convince him to make the move.
“First the club, it’s a big club, an historic club and when I spoke to the coach also, it was a good speech and I really appreciate how he speaks,” he told TalkSPORT. “Him and Dane Murphy and directly it was my decision to come here to prove myself and to give my best for the club.”
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"I live and sleep football, so I know the history of the club and it’s very nice. A big comeback and I think all of England is happy for this, so I’m really happy to be here.”
Having been with the club for a few weeks, Niakhate has said that he is happy with the welcome he has received ahead of the new season starting. Seven more players have since completed the switch, something which could take some work on and off the pitch, but the player is confident that it won’t take long to get to know his new teammates.
“I receive a lot of messages from the fans. With the teammates, with the staff, with everybody, everything is perfect, I had a very good welcome so I’m really grateful for this,” he added.
“Of course, we have a lot of new players, so we have to adapt on the pitch, but here they’re just good guys, a good mentality, so we’ll adapt really fast, this I’m sure of.”
The defender has also delivered a message on the targets for the season, with the new arrival looking to create memories for fans and players over the next nine or so months.
“The goal is to win games, after 23 years we don’t want to go down, this is not the goal. To give the best, to play good, attacking football at home especially, and to create big moments against big teams, I know we can do it, so this is the goal. The real goal, you will have to ask the coach.”
“I’m here to improve myself, to be better. I know I have good potential. I can improve offensively, defensively, everywhere. I’m not at the top in some parts.”
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