Faye: 'Giráldez convinced me to join'

Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye confirmed on Tuesday that a call from Claudio Giráldez proved decisive in his arrival at Celta on loan this season. «I've known Celta since I was very young, I know it's a great club. I had the opportunity to go elsewhere, but the manager called me and convinced me. I like the way they play,» the African footballer said at a press conference, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

Faye arrives from Bayer Leverkusen and comes off a season on loan at FC Lorient, where he made 17 Ligue 1 appearances and 2 cup matches. The left-sided centre-back, a U-21 international, expressed his ambition to compete at the highest level: «Every footballer wants to play at the highest level. It's a personal ambition to play in the Champions League, whether here or elsewhere.»

Marco Garcés, Celta's sporting director, praised the move, describing Faye as «one of European football's great prospects». The player, who becomes the club's third summer signing, also praised the arrival of Marcos Alonso: «It's an honour to share a dressing room with Marcos Alonso, he's a tremendous footballer».