SAINTS defender Armel Bella-Kotchap opened up on his exclusion from Russell Martin’s squad and insisted he
has been told in new talks he will have a chance under Ivan Juric.
The 23 year old has not ruled out a departure from St Mary’s in the January transfer window but claimed he would
prefer to remain in the Premier League.
Bella-Kotchap’s last appearance for Saints came as a substitute in the 5-3 win at Cardiff City, in the Carabao Cup
second round back in August.
The German had seen a permanent transfer to Hoffenheim fall through after media in his native country leaked
concerns over a possible heart issue.
Former manager Martin refuted the reports and insisted Bella-Kotchap was fully fit, using the cup match as a
chance to drum up transfer interest.
In a new interview, out-in-the-cold Bella-Kotchap told Bild: “I moved to PSV Eindhoven on loan after the
relegation from Southampton in 2023.
“There I had an injury and never really got into the step. When I went back to England in the summer, the coach
preferred to rely on the promotion team.
“He didn’t like that I wanted to leave after the relegation but I wanted to take the next step at the time, which I
thought was right.
“With these two views, we never really got together. I have been talking intensively with the club managers for the
last two days.
“They assured me they care a lot about me and that I get my chance under the new coach. I know that I now
first have to fight back into the team.
“I’m burning for that. But it is also important for me that I re-set the environment in my situation. I have to bring
my performance, I can’t influence more.”
Bella-Kotchap added: “I also want to make myself interesting again for the national team. I want to get to where
I’ve been before as soon as possible.
“I like it here in England, I make no secret of it. I would like to assert myself in the Premier League. But I don’t
want to close doors either.
“My willingness to move to Hoffenheim has shown that I can imagine the Bundesliga very well. This continues to
apply to my future.”
Bella-Kotchap also discussed interest from Bayern’s rivals, Borussia Dortmund, having played for the national
team just six months prior.
“The interest of Dortmund and Bayern of course makes every player proud and I would be lying if I said I was not
very concerned at the time,” he said.
“Sebastian Kehl (Dortmund sporting director) is said to have meant it very seriously with me at the time, but
Southampton refused the change.
“At Bayern, it was even more concrete. I also had a conversation with Marco Neppe, the then-technical director of
FC Bayern.
“In the end, the move to Bayern failed at the last second because there was no agreement with Southampton.
Basically, however, we agreed at the time.
“Once you’ve had the chance to play for such top clubs, it’s clear that you’re still dreaming about it. I would like to
show the performances again soon, so that I am interesting again for clubs like Bayern and Dortmund.”
New Saints manager Ivan Juric could look to afford Bella-Kotchap an opportunity, while the January transfer
window opens in nine days.
Read more news:https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply