Moroccan Goalkeeper Bounou Reflects on Emotional Departure from Sevilla for Saudi Club Al-Hilal

After Seville’s defeat against Manchester City in the Super Cup final, Bounou bid farewell to Nervión. Seville accepted Al-Hilal’s offer of 20 million euros for the transfer of the Moroccan international who will earn almost triple his former salary. "The moment I informed my teammates that I was going to Saudi Arabia was very difficult for me. This option came out at the last minute and it was hard to face the last two days... I left everything I had in Seville and left quietly for Saudi Arabia," Bounou told La Razón.

The goalkeeper assures that he will forever carry Seville in his heart. "I will love them for the rest of my life. The love they gave me was incredible and I will watch their matches every time I can. I wish them good luck," he added, recalling the difficult situation the Seville team experienced during the transfer window. "There was a lot of instability and it was not easy for the players to focus. Now that the market is over, I’m sure the team will give 100% and turn the situation around," he commented.

Bounou was one of the heroes of his team’s victory over Benzema’s Al-Ittihad. Al Hilal was the first champion of the Saudi league in the 1975-76 season. Bounou’s new club has already won the championship 18 times. After a bad season, the club hopes to bounce back with the arrival of Bounou and Neymar. "I hope I can write history with Al Hilal. The public expects a lot from us and that for me is something very positive. I love challenges and I love being in a place where expectations are high," the Moroccan goalkeeper said on the day of his presentation.

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