Neal Maupay’s Transition to Sevilla: A New Chapter

omidbasir- Neal Maupay has officially become a player for Sevilla FC. Shortly after being registered with LaLiga, the winter signing of the Nervionense team expressed that he feels “good, happy, and grateful to be here.” In an interview with the club’s official media, the French striker acknowledged the difficulties he faced during his previous stint at Olympique de Marseille: “It has been somewhat complicated for me to be on the sidelines, watching the team play every weekend, but I knew I had to be prepared by training hard, as there would be opportunities for me in January. This helped me focus and continue believing. Now, I’m ready to move forward.”

One reason Maupay chose Sevilla is his strong connection with head coach Matías Almeyda. “He told me he needed a player like me, and I replied that I hoped there would be a quick agreement between the clubs so that I could come,” he added, noting that he appreciates “his mentality and what he is achieving with the team.” “Sometimes your heart tells you what is good and what is not for you. I felt he was a good coach and a better person. He is very close with the players and instills a lot of confidence, which is something I need. I’m sure everything will go well,” he explained confidently.

Maupay believes “Marseille and Sevilla are two similar cities.” “People love football, and when we played in the summer, I liked the team. When the opportunity arose to join, I had to take it,” a decision further reinforced by his teammate Geoffrey Kondogbia, who previously played for the club: “He encouraged me even more to come here, although I didn’t need much persuasion. He said that even though he was only there for a year, he loved the club and the city, and that I would fit in well here.”

Maupay is confident that his adaptation to Sevilla will be smooth, thanks to both the team environment and his background. “There are some French teammates, which helps. Azpilicueta also speaks French. Additionally, I hope to speak Spanish soon to be fully integrated with the team. My mother is Argentine, and I share some similarities with her. She is very happy that I will finally speak Spanish. She always spoke to me in Spanish, but I have been a bit lazy in that regard because I’ve been speaking English. I only speak a little, but now that I’m here, I will refine it,” he stated.

After participating in two training sessions with Sevilla, Maupay feels very positive about his experience on the pitch. “I’ve scored my first goals. It has been heartening to see everyone smiling and in good spirits. When you arrive at a place and see everyone like that, it helps a lot,” he acknowledged. Consequently, he is even more eager to debut at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán: “Everyone tells me that the fans are very supportive and make a lot of noise. When I was there, I noticed how close the stands are to the field. I might be a player who connects quickly with the fans because I always give my all. We play to win matches, but also to make the people happy.”

Regarding his position on the field, Maupay has experience playing “as a sole striker, alongside another forward, and even just behind the striker.” “I like to move a lot around the pitch, and it could benefit me to play with another forward who can challenge the defenders for long balls, allowing me to exploit space,” he believes, suggesting a promising partnership with Akor Adams: “We can play together. We are different and have distinct qualities, and I hope to play alongside him. We will give our utmost to win matches and make the fans happy.”

“I started very young and suffered a serious knee injury. It was tough for me to recover; I was 16 years old, and then I went to England. I fought hard to prove I deserved to be in the Premier League. No one gave me anything; I had to fight for it. I never gave up, and I am proud of that. Sometimes it’s easy to criticize, but when I look at what I have achieved, I feel happy because I gave my all every day,” Maupay reflected on his journey. He now embraces this new chapter, “happy to be in Spain, in Sevilla, because it is a new challenge and a new league.” He is likely to debut in the next match, where Sevilla will visit Mallorca: “I am ready and very excited, so see you on the field on Monday.”