Fulham’s new goalkeeper Fabri has revealed that the club’s unique history and the prospect of playing in the Premier League were among the main reasons to convince him to leave Besiktas.
The Whites confirmed the experienced Spanish goalkeeper as their third signing of the summer, after agreeing a fee of around £5m with the Turkish club. Fabri, who had worked with Fulham’s goalkeeping coach Jose Sambede at two of his previous clubs, was clearly taken with his new club’s history – as he showed during a wide-ranging interview with FulhamFCTV:
I am very happy to have joined a club with so much history like Fulham. I am delighted that Fulham have trusted that I can compete with them to be in the Premier League for many years and feel very positive about this. I want to enjoy this challenge and every training session and match. I considerable myself a very positive and happy guy and want to adapt as soon as possible to London life, improving my English. My feelings are very positive, and I want to give everything and enjoy the day-to-day.
The fact that I have joined a club with so much history and the oldest in London is very attractive to me. I close my eyes and imagine what football must have been like. Obviously I have not watched it but I have seen pictures of the old style stadium and the essence that it has got. I have also been told that it is a very family orientated club where everyone is close. All of that is important to me and the target of playing in the most competitive league in the world, the Premier League.
The Premier League is a league that all football players dream of being part of. It’s the most competitive league with great clubs, followed worldwide, an incredible history, very different football played with respect, fans who are constantly cheering and supporting their teams in full stadia. It has many things to attract you. For me it’s the best league in the world alongside La Liga but the Premier League attracts you in all senses.
The 30 year-old has no qualms about being asked to play out from the back and be part of a possession-focused, attractive side, believing that the success of Pep Guardiola with Barcelona and Manchester City has changed the game markedly.
This has allowed the team to get such good results, to achieve promotion and return to the Premier League. It is all about confidence and working hard and believing firmly in the work and that style of play. [Pep] Guardiola has revolutionised that style of play with something perhaps more direct, also Liverpool and Chelsea have adapted their way of thinking and perhaps that has changed football in England.
I think it is interesting to be able to learn something new, to see new things which can get results is always beneficial. I just love football so I can adapt to any style! But yes, I like it. I prefer a style where the team keeps possession, is more attacking and can play good football. I like it and I admire teams that can play this way.
Fabri also has his sights set on an enjoyable season at Craven Cottage. He is expected to become Fulham’s first choice goalkeeper, displacing former England under-21 international Marcus Bettinelli:
Like all players I want to play, but I also want to enjoy it, come to work with a smile on my face every day, feel that we are a united group fighting for the same objectives, that we have a good atmosphere. But the main thing I desire to be able to enjoy it. To be able to do things well so that we can get the results which will influence everything. Overall I want to deliver good results, remain positive and enjoy my team here, enjoy this great season and many more to come.
