Brown Ideye: “I had other offers but Málaga's convinced me”
Málaga presented Nigerian striker Brown Ideye, who joins on loan from China's Tianjin Teda but with no purchase option. “I'm a goal scorer” he told reporters.
Brown Ideye has already seen half the world during his career, taking in Switzerland, France, Ukraine, England, Greece and China. Spain's LaLiga is the Nigerian striker's latest stop-off and he was officially presented by Málaga this afternoon. Joining him were Director of Sport Mario Husillos and coach José González as he gave his first words as a Málaga player: “Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for bringing me to this great club. I know that it was not an easy transfer. My career has had its ups and down but I am looking to the future with the hope of helping this team”.
Ideye: I know the score
Living up to the challenges ahead. “I was well aware of the team's position before I accepted the offer to come here. It is another challenge for me. I know the team team is in the bottom part of the table. I'm a goal scorer and I've come here to help the team by scoring goals”.
How would you describe yourself? “Scoring goals is what I do. I've always scored goals at all of the clubs I've played for and I have also set up my teams with assists so they can score. I'm going to run my socks off in every game and I hope I don't stop scoring for the team. I know it's a difficult situation because I've been out of action for four or five months but I'm not going to make any excuses. I want to return to top form and be ready to help the team as soon as possible”.
How are you in terms of fitness? “I'm ready to play. Today was the second day back in training, but physically I feel fine. Now it's up to the coach to decide whether I enter the list now or a bit later”.
The Spanish league. “I've joined one of the best leagues in the world. I'm really happy because it was one of the things I've longed for - to come here and play with and against the best players. I'll try to produce my best level. I can't wait to get started. The only difficulty I envisage is the language and understanding my team mates. But the language of football is universal. I know we'll click with each other”.
Eight offers received
What made you decide to join Málaga? Do you mean did I have any other offers? I had seven offers, eight including the one from Málaga (one from Greece, another from Turkey, Las Palmas, Levante, Toulouse and Werder Bremen, amongst others). I discussed it with my agent and my wife and we decided to come here. We know all about Málaga's situation but I want to play. I know the team's bottom of the table but for me it's not a problem. There are a lot of games left to play and I know the team won't finish in bottom place. I haven't come to Málaga for the weather or because of friends. I spoke to the people at Olympiacos and they told me this is a great club. That was another reason which convinced me to come here”.
How many goals do you see yourself scoring between now and May? “I never set myself an objective in scoring goals. My statistics are there to see. I've always scored goals and I will try to do my job the best I can”.
Monday's trip to Las Palmas. “Every game, from now until the end of the season is important. I watched Las Palmas' game against Atlético the other day and I think we can beat them”.
2018 World Cup with Nigeria. “We all know when the World Cup is but my priority right now is Málaga. After that we can start thinking about the World Cup”.
Ideye blazes through medical sending the clock "off the scale"
Mario Husillos explained that Málaga have not reserved an option to buy the player outright at the end of the loan deal and added that Ideye could make his debut on Monday away at Las Palmas. As for his medical, he revealed: “We have been asked about his physical condition because he hasn't played competitively for a few months. He was put through a test, designed by our fitness instructors - strength and recovery drills and he sent the clock right off the scale…. Physically he is in perfect shape; he's match fit and ready to compete”.
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