Former Liverpool star Takumi Minamino has joined up with his new team-mates for their pre-season training in Portugal - and he's excited by the new challenge ahead of him.
The Japanese international departed Liverpool this summer after two-and-a-half years with the club to join the Ligue 1 side. The deal is worth an initial £12.9m with a potential £2.5m in add-ons.
With the new season a matter of weeks away, the 27-year-old has begun his preparations and met the squad for the first time. He admitted he's excited by the prospect of playing in a new league.
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He said: "It's a new challenge for me, a new team, a new country, a new championship: Ligue 1. I am very excited about the idea to join the team.
"I watched a few matches last season. I know the team a little bit. Monaco has had a good run in the Champions League, until the semi-finals I believe (in 2017).
"With players like Kylian Mbappe or even Fabinho."
Liverpool signed midfielder Fabinho from Monaco in 2018 and he's become a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp's side. While playing in France, the Brazilian won Ligue 1 in the 16/17 season and reached the Champions League semi-finals.
Monaco's latest recruit will reunite with former club Southampton later this month for a pre-season friendly at St Mary's on July 27. Minamino spent the second-half of the 2020/21 on loan with Ralph Hasenhuttl's side.
Their season gets underway at the beginning of August and Minamino could make his debut as they enter the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The league campaign gets underway on August 6 with an away clash against Strasbourg.
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