French revolutionary
Following completion of his transfer to Newcastle from Montpellier, defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa spoke to French newspaper L'Equipe:
How have your first 24 hours in Newcastle been?
Good?but tiring! As soon as I arrived, I passed my medical, visited the training ground, held a press conference, I'm not used to all that! This is my first transfer. I was quite surprised by everything that had been arranged for me. In France, people don't consider Newcastle as a big club, but I can tell you that from the inside, Newcastle is a very big club. I'm not used to such a big club, unfortunately there is nothing like this at Montpellier.
Was deciding to leave a difficult decision?
It's tough to leave your home-town club, yes. I'd done everything at Montpellier, so you could say my time there was done? I am very happy, and yet at the same time, sad. It's a strange feeling, one I've never felt before.
When did you decide to leave?
I've been thinking about it for a while now. At the start of the season, I had a few options, but Montpellier couldn't reach an agreement with AC Milan. I decided to stay, and renew my contract until 2015, but I always had in mind that I might leave. Then Newcastle came along, there's a real project going on here. In terms of integration, there are lots of French players here, I thought if players such as Cabaye, Debuchy, or even Ben Arfa have come here, then it must be a good place.
Is your goal to shine at Newcastle in order to catch the eye of bigger English clubs?
My goal is to impose myself, and succeed here. After, if I'm playing well, who knows. But Newcastle is a big club, a big club with a big project, which wants to be one of the best 5 teams in the Premier League. People are criticising my choice, but if I chose another club, people would criticise that too, that's just football.
Your ex-president, Louis Nicollin, can't understand your choice, calling you an idiot. Did that hurt you? Or make you angry?
No. He was my president, what can you say? He was like my dad, I know how he is. I think he's sad about me leaving as much as anything else. I know he didn't say it to upset me.
Newcastle are sixteenth in the premier league, does that worry you?
No. It's a club going through a difficult time, but we'll soon climb the table, I'm sure of it.
You've had a few problems on the pitch in the past couple of months; did you need to leave to improve your game?
Yes, to find my highest level and to continue progressing. I needed a new challenge. Our next game is at Aston Villa on Tuesday. I don't know when I'll next get to play, but I'm excited."
