Kessie: 'Few players could say no to the greatest club in the world'

Franck Yannick Kessie is officially an FC Barcelona player! The Ivorian midfielder was presented this Wednesday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training ground in the company of president Joan Laporta and director of football Mateu Alemany.

The former AC Milan player used the occasion to describe how thrilled he is to be here, saying “there aren’t many players who could say no to Barça, it’s the greatest club in the world.”

“I am really looking forward to starting training and meeting all my new team-mates” he continued. “I am ready to do what the coach needs. I consider myself a midfielder, but I’ll play in whatever position he wants.”

Laporta sounded just as excited about the deal, saying “we are very pleased to have signed Kessie because we are fulfilling one of the coach's wishes.”

Blaugrana idol

Franck Kessie used his press conference to heap praise on his all-time hero, and his only countryman to have played for Barça in the past, Yaya Touré, who wore blaugrana for three seasons. “He’s a great all-round footballer” he said. “My dream is to work hard enough to have a career like he did.”

Busy day at Ciutat Esportiva

Prior to meeting the media, Kessie had been bright and early at the Ciutat Esportiva for a medical, and then made his way to the offices to sign his contract with Joan Laporta.

Shortly after, on the Tito Vilanova field, the president handed him his club membership card, and after posing for photos, he then went and got kitted up in the brand new Barça strip to pose for further pictures while juggling the ball and enjoying a quick kickaround with youngsters from the Barça Academy.