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"I made the right decision"
Baptistão highlights the project and expects to do his best at Espanyol
RCD Espanyol presented Leo Baptistão, his fourth reinforcement for the 2016-2017 season. The Brazilian striker has said he was "very happy" for his move and acknowledged that the project called "much attention". "It has not taken much to convince me. The project is very exciting and it is the right decision", said Baptistao, who signed for five seasons and hopes to find the desired stability.
"I'm looking forward to having continuity in a club and be more than a year. A five-year contract is reassuring, but I know I can’t relax and I have to work very hard. I am ambitious and yet I could not show as much. I hope to make a great season in every way. I love to stay here five years", he said. The striker has made it clear that reaches a club "with a lot of history, and I hope to continue progressing as a player and have a good year with RCD Espanyol. The project attracts me, because I see winning mentality". On the team options, Baptistão, who said he was "very confident to show my highest level of football", said that "we have to get into a winning dynamic and be as high as possible".
The new white and blue player said that his teammates Felipe Caicedo and Gerard Moreno are great players. "Caicedo is a great striker; he is a very strong and powerful player. I know Gerard from Villarreal very well because we did the preseason together at Villarreal and played good games; it is easy to adapt. Sure I'll learn a lot from them. We are making an offensive team, with quality and I think we will make a good football", he said. In this context, he indicated on its position in the field, he feels comfortable "playing in front of goal than playing back or falling to the sides, but I will play where the coach prefers".
CEO Espanyol, Robert Ramon, explained that the club has paid 3.5 million for 50% of the economic rights of the player and his buyout clause is 27 million. "We have a deadline to acquire the other 50%. Atletico Madrid has an option to buy six million", he said. Meanwhile, the football director of the entity, Angel Gomez, explained that the club was looking for a striker with the characteristics of Baptistão. "It's a center-forward with speed and depth we were looking for. He has extensive experience in the Spanish league and has reached the site where it will explode and certainly going to enjoy an exciting project”, he said.