‘I’m Very Passionate’ – Coulibaly’s First Words

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‘I’m Very Passionate’ – Coulibaly’s First Words

Woyo Coulibaly spoke of his determination to assist our quest for Premier League survival after becoming our first signing of 2025.

2025-01-17T15:00+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

17 Jan, 2025

‘I’m Very Passionate’ – Coulibaly’s First Words

Woyo Coulibaly spoke of his determination to assist our quest for Premier League survival after becoming our first signing of 2025.

Sam Jones

2025-01-17T15:00+00:00

‘I’m Very Passionate’ – Coulibaly’s First Words

Woyo Coulibaly spoke of his determination to assist our quest for Premier League survival after becoming our first signing of 2025.

Sam Jones

2025-01-17T15:00+00:00

‘I’m Very Passionate’ – Coulibaly’s First Words

Woyo Coulibaly spoke of his determination to assist our quest for Premier League survival after becoming our first signing of 2025.

Sam Jones

2025-01-17T15:00+00:00

‘I’m Very Passionate’ – Coulibaly’s First Words

Woyo Coulibaly spoke of his determination to assist our quest for Premier League survival after becoming our first signing of 2025.

Sam Jones

2025-01-17T15:00+00:00

The full-back joined on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Serie A side Parma, where he gained promotion from Serie B during the same season in which the Foxes lifted the Championship title.

Sat in the players’ recreation room in Seagrave, the 25-year-old explained why he is keen to embrace Leicester’s culture as he takes on this new challenge in the Premier League.

“I feel very good,” the defender commented in his first interview since joining us. “I’ve been made to feel very welcome. The training ground is incredible! To play in the Premier League is such a big thing. It’s a big challenge and I can’t wait to get started.

Coulibaly spoke for the first time since his move from Parma.

“I’m happy to be here with you. I’m ready to play and I’m very passionate. It’s the only Club in Leicester so I understand its importance to supporters. It helps to bring us all together as players, as though we are a family. That will help us a lot.”

The Club’s recent history is not lost on the French full-back, who recalled memories of the 2016 title triumph as well as his own trophy success last term, claiming the Italian second-tier title with his former club.

“It’s a huge honour,” the former Le Havre youngster expressed. “There have been so many big players who have played here; Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kanté both played here and they won the league. It was incredible and it is something that has stayed in my mind.

“Of course there are similarities; Leicester won the Championship and Parma won the Serie B title, however they are two different leagues and two different levels of football.”

Able to slot in on either side of the defence, his versatility could be a valuable asset heading into the second half of the campaign, also admitting that Ruud van Nistelrooy was a key pull in convincing him to make the move to LCFC at this stage of his career.

The defender has signed a deal until the summer of 2029.

Our latest recruit added: “I’m a right-back, but I can also play on the left. It doesn’t bother me as I can execute either role well, but I usually play on the right and it’s where I’ve focused my development.

“In terms of what I can bring to the team – positivity, my energy, my solidarity and my desire to win. There are players here that speak French and that I know of, so that should help me to settle in well.

“It can only help me with my integration [that I already know players here]. It will make it a lot easier for me.

“I had a conversation with him (van Nistelrooy) before deciding to join the Club. He quickly convinced me – he was such a huge player; a world-class striker and I didn’t hesitate about coming here.

“It greatly influenced my decision the fact that he has so much confidence in me. The things he said really motivated me and I was ready right away to come and play [for the Club].”

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