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Pierre-Gabriel: “It is a challenge for me”
The Frenchman was presented as an RCD Espanyol player on Monday
Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel was officially unveiled as an RCD Espanyol player in his presentation.
The French defender signed for the Club last week on loan from Mainz 05, becoming the second arrival of the winter transfer window. He was presented to the media in the Juan Segura Palomares Auditorium at the RCDE Stadium on Monday.
Pierre-Gabriel said, “I’m really happy to be here at Espanyol. I hope I can have a really good season with the team, and I want to thank the fans and the whole team for allowing me to be here. It is a challenge for me, a great opportunity with a historic Club and I’m really looking forward to it”.
Asked about his style of play and preferences, he said, “What I like the most is winning defensive duels. I prefer to play in a back four, but I am able to adapt to a back five. I am naturally a right-back, but I can adapt and also play on the left, as I have done before in France and Germany”.
The 24-year-old has spent the last few years in the Bundesliga with Mainz, as well as playing for several clubs in his native France throughout his career.
He has been training with his new teammates since last Thursday and was on the bench for Espanyol’s 1-0 win over Real Betis. “It was the interest of Espanyol and the big opportunity that attracted me”, Pierre-Gabriel continued, “You cannot turn down an offer at a club as historic as Espanyol”.
Mao Ye, Club CEO, said, “Welcome, Ronaël, we hope that your adaptation will be quick and you can enjoy your football on the pitch very soon”.
Domingo Catoira, sports director, added, “The injuries made us evaluate the possibility of signing a new right-back, one who is complete and very strong both defensively and offensively. The fact that he could also play on both sides gives him greater versatility”.