Zakarya Bergdich has revealed that Head Coach Guy Luzon’s interest in him convinced the full-back to become Charlton’s sixth signing of the summer.
The 26-year-old, a full Morocco international, put pen to paper on a four-year deal yesterday and joins Patrick Bauer, El-Hadji Ba, Simon Makienok, Ahmed Kashi and Cristian Ceballos as the Addicks’ summer recruits thus far.
The left-back, who featured 11 times on loan at Serie A club Genoa last season, says that the Addicks boss was pivotal factor in deciding the former Lens player’s fate.
“The coach has been following me for a while, in fact a couple of years,” admitted Bergdich. “It was a big reason that convinced me to come here.
“I believe with my experience, I can help the club get to where they deserve, which is the Premier League.”
The former UJA Alfortville man signed from Spanish club Real Valladolid where he made 17 appearances in the Segunda Division last season and has revealed that sides from England’s top tier were interested in signing him.
He said: “I had a lot of propositions from teams in the Premier League and elsewhere, but I really want to take on the challenge here.
“I’m a player who always gives everything for the club as well as having have good technique and speed. I also have a lot of passion for my team.”
At Genoa, Bergdich started matches against the likes of A.C Milan, AS Roma and this year’s Champions League finalists Juventus, but the new signing was still blown away during his first visit to The Valley.
“Wow - I think it’s very impressive,” said Bergdich while studying his new horizons.
“I’m very happy to be here and I have had a good welcome from everyone already. I'm really looking forward to mixing with the fans and meeting them all.”
Centre back was where we let so many go, yet it is the area we have left alone other than getting Bauer in. You need to give the defensive unit playing time togethe pre seaskn before QPR especially if they are in front of a nervous Pope. Very strange.
We have a 34 year old filling in at centre back 2 weeks before the season starts which is bordering on farcical when you consider how long we have had to do something about it. Regardless of the work done elsewhere on the squad.
Makes Bikey being frozen out, and Johnson and Ben Haim being let go seem bizarre.
Lenglet looks unlikely, herd can cover right back and is not a centre back by trade. That leaves Hoban who would be ok. Still need an experienced championship centre back to guide the younger guys. For the money we are supposedly looking at for Lenglet we could have afforded Shackell or someone similar.
Comments
For me this is the most exciting potential signing of the summer. Excellent pedigree and scouted by top European clubs.
Need for a centre back is critical so I can only guess we have another one sorted.
If we are unveiling someone tomorrow as someone on here confirmed then it must be Henry.
As for defence we may have no choice but to keep Bikey involved as third choice and pay for a proven top notch championship centre back.
I translated a French Nancy Supporters club twitter feed that stated he wasn't playing..
Damn you bing translator!!
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://forum.asnl.net/&prev=search
Henry is the one I want, but the centre back situation is approaching crisis point and is where all the focus should be.
Makes Bikey being frozen out, and Johnson and Ben Haim being let go seem bizarre.
Now is the time I wish Roland still had Liege.