Tanguy Kouassi in the PSG jersey during a French Cup match against Linas Montlhéry, January 5, 2020. - CHRISTOPHE SAIDI / SIPA

Bayern Munich formalized Wednesday the recruitment until June 2024 of Tanguy Kouassi, 18-year-old French central defender who leaves PSG for lack of having signed a first professional contract in his training club.

“In our opinion, he is one of the greatest talents in Europe. His favorite position is central defender, but he can play in different positions. We are sure that he will have a great career in Munich and that he will strengthen our team, ”said Bavarian sports director Hasan Salihamidzic.

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- FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) July 1, 2020

Kouassi's departure is a blow for PSG, the club in which he has been playing since the age of 14 and who has not managed to convince him to sign a first professional contract. “It was not the time to leave the club, not at all. We trusted him, he had minutes. It was possible for him to play in the middle as a 6, or as a central defender. He was really a key player. I can't understand, I'm sad, but OK, that's how it was, "said Parisian coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday.

Strong competition among the Germans

The young French defender has appeared in a dozen games this season with PSG, half of which in Ligue 1. Tuchel notably established him in December 2019 against Galatasaray (5-0) in the group stage of the Champions League.

At Bayern, crowned German champion in 2020 for the 30th time in its history, the competition will be very strong in central defense with the experienced Jérôme Boateng, the young and talented Niklas Süle and the French world champion Lucas Hernandez.

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