Senegalese Boulaye Dia and Algerian Aïssa Mandi strengthen Villarreal
Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi and Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia.
© AP - Ariel Schalit & Daniel Cole - RFI editing
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
5 mins
The Spanish club recruited two African internationals in July 2021. Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia has been transferred from Stade de Reims.
Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi, also a member of the Reims club, has also joined the “Yellow Submarine”.
He was at the end of his contract at Real Betis.
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Winner of the Europa League against Manchester United on May 26, Villarreal will play the Champions League in 2021-2022.
And the "Yellow Submarine" must equip itself for its reunion with this competition that it has not played for ten years.
After exercising the option to buy Argentinian defender Juan Foyth of 15 million euros, the club coached by Unai Emery has strengthened in the attacking sector.
Dia, "a different player"
After several days of insistent rumors, the transfer of
Boulaye Dia
from Reims to Villarreal was formalized on July 13. The 24-year-old Senegalese striker was recruited by the Spaniards for an amount estimated between 12 and 15 million euros. The player, author of 28 goals in 88 games in the Reims jersey, comes out of a big 2020-2021 season. He scored 16 goals in all competitions, including 14 in 36 Ligue 1 games.
During the last winter transfer window, the striker, who was still playing at the amateur level at Jura Sud Foot three years ago, had already almost left.
His departure finally took place six months later.
“
I am very happy to be here.
I want to thank the president, management, staff and my teammates for their welcome.
I am very happy to arrive at this club to progress,
”declared Boulaye Dia after his presentation, on the website of his new team.
“
I want to grow up at Villarreal, develop my career and win titles.
The Champions League is the best competition and I will prepare for it as best I can.
"
See this post on Instagram
A publication shared by @boulaye_dia
Fernando Roig Negueroles is delighted with this arrival.
The president of Villarreal confided that his club had followed Boulaye Dia for a long time.
“
He's a different player than the ones we already have.
He can offer us a lot in attack.
It is a great reinforcement and we are delighted to have it,
”he insisted.
Boulaye Dia is the second Senegalese footballer to wear the club's colors after Alfred N'Diaye (2016-2017).
Mandi quickly responded to Villarreal's call
Another player who wore the Stade de Reims jersey has joined Villarreal. Aïssa Mandi, 29, trained at the Champagne club and professional there between 2009 and 2016, will also continue her journey under the yellow tunic of the winners of the Europa League. He was at the end of his contract with Real Betis, where he had been playing since leaving Reims. His arrival in the club of the Valencian community had been recorded since mid-June. The defender was officially presented on Monday, July 19.
Winner of CAN 2019, the Algerian will discover the Champions League. “
When Villarreal calls you, you don't have to think much. I want consistency and I want to play Europe every year. When my agent told me about Villarreal's interest, I didn't think twice and it all happened very quickly,
”he said. Aïssa Mandi has initialed a contract for the next four seasons. He is the first Algerian player to wear this jersey.
As the Europa League winner, Villarreal will be in hat 1 in the draw for the group stage of the next Champions League.
In three participations in the C1, the club achieved two good performances: semi-finalist in 2005-2006, quarter-finalist in 2008-2009.
On the other hand, during its last campaign, in 2011-2012, the "Yellow Submarine" had sunk suffering six losses in six matches in the first round.
Mandi ha sido presentado oficialmente esta tarde como 'groguet' 💛
🗣 @ aissamandi23: "Espero dar mi mejor nivel para estar muchos años en el #Villarreal"
¡BIENVENIDO, AÏSSA 🤝!
- Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) July 19, 2021
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