Speaking to Soccer Laduma, LALIGA Sporty MVP nominee Pape Gueye has revealed how his African teammates have helped him become one of the best players from the continent in the Spanish top flight.
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At the start of the 2024/25 season, the Senegalese international completed a move from Olympique de Marseille to Villarreal, and under Marcelino, the 27-year-old has become one of the most prominent players in the league.
His performances for the Yellow Submarine have now helped put them in prime position to successfully qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
He was, however, not the only African player to arrive at the Estadio de la Cerámica during the off-season, as Ivory Coast star Nicolas Pepe and Cape Verde’s Logan Costa also completed moves. The defensive midfielder has revealed how playing alongside his fellow Africans has not only helped him reach new levels, but also aided the club in their push to play in Europe’s premier club competition.
“Yeah, I do think that (playing with other African stars) has made a massive contribution because we speak the same language,” the 26-capped international told Soccer Laduma.
“So we speak French, and for plenty of players, especially those you mentioned, it makes it easier to integrate because I speak Spanish but there are some that don’t speak it very well yet and if I can translate for them a little bit what the manager is saying it helps a lot.
“We really help each other on a daily basis and obviously on the pitch, if we understand each other, we can try find each other with a pass and that makes us feel better, so yes it’s something positive.”
Gueye has been one of the best performers in the entire division, and he claims it is because of the individual work he has started doing this season.
“Honestly it is hard work. Whether it’s the tremendous work we do at Villarreal but I’ve also got a strength coach, I’m going to have a second session with him now actually and I know where I want to be and I understand that I need to go step by step. I chose Villarreal for my next step, there were many that didn’t understand why I chose it because there were many clubs interested but this season proves that I made the right choice.
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“I always want more, I’m going to carry on working hard and I just want to go as high as I can.”
