JOSÉ CASTRO: "THERE IS NO REASON TO WORRY OR EVEN BE ALARMED ABOUT KOUNDÉ"

The Galería de ABC, in the Plaza de Cuba, was the setting chosen for this Tuesday's meeting between the president, José Castro, and the subscribers to +Nervión, the sports content platform about Sevilla FC at ABC de Sevilla. As is expected, firstly, the president was asked about Jules Koundé: "There is no reason to worry or even be alarmed. He has put up with some niggles throughout the season and it isn't worrying us because a week after his teammates start, he will be fit.

In regards to his possible transfer, the president commented that "it's something that you all talk about, it is possible, but we don't know if he will be sold or not. This happened last year and he will only be sold if the offer is the one that the club deems enough and acceptable so that he can leave, like we have always done. The policy is clear, we have done it like this for many years, although in the last two years we have made an effort to reject incoming offers. The reality is that he is our player and we can only wait for him to recover and hope that he is back in Seville in the first week of July." 

When touching on the manager, Castro reiterated the confidence he has in Julen Lopetegui: "I don't know how to say it anymore. The season ended and the fans voiced their opinion of Lopetegui. He has two years left, he has reached the goals of the last three years. We didn't give him an extra two years for nothing, but because we understood that he is a manager for the future. I don't get tired of saying that he is a leader in the changing room and the right person to govern our sporting destinies in the coming seasons. It is no coincidence that the contract has been increased and we aren't looking to change our minds".

"Lopetegui is the right person to govern our sporting destinies in the coming seasons"

After viewing a video of his time as president, the president reflected on the past for a moment: "Those that have spent so much time at the club, we have been through a lot of hardship and it was so important to reach the semifinal of the cup, and when we talk about titles and look at those pictures brimming to the top with joy, it shows where Sevilla etched it's name in history. One day it will have to be taken into account and looked back upon. However, I don't want that right now, I only want to work and work. The work schedule doesn't allow you to think about the past, only about the present and, mostly, the future because it is always around the corner. In football, the past isn't important. We have to work now, so that there is a tomorrow." 

Castro commented on the recent visit to India and the good perspectives on the horizon: "We came to India and there they talk to you about Sevilla. We have made a name for ourselves through hard work, sacrifice, effort and triumph. Both the club and the city are talked about. Our business markets are Mexico, the USA, China and India. In India, the population is  1.38 billion, 100 million of which are interested in football and 40 million who are interested in LaLiga. It is an important niche for our internationalisation to be there. Hopefully we are known, we sell our brand and they see our games. All of which will add up to television licence fee income. The agreement with CVC includes the internationalisation and we must carry on with this. The visit was fruitful and maybe it won't be seen straight away, but in the mid-term it was very productive. We have had many events with LaLiga and they have seen how important Sevilla FC is there because of the many members of the media who have been there and the thousands of interviews we have done."