Karim El Ahmadi has expressed his pride at being identified as a top target by Paul Lambert this summer, and is pleased to have ended up at Aston Villa.
Midfielder delighted to have ended up at Villa
Karim El Ahmadi has expressed his pride at being identified as a top target by Paul Lambert this summer, and is pleased to have ended up at Aston Villa.
The Morocco international became Lambert's first signing as Villa boss when he completed a move from Feyenoord in June.
The 27-year-old midfielder was made aware of the interest in his services long before a deal was done, with a Premier League switch on the cards for some time.
It appeared as though Norwich would be his most likely destination, with Lambert making it clear that he was a player he wanted to acquire early in the transfer window.
The Scot was soon packing his bags for Villa, though, and El Ahmadi admits to being more excited about making a fresh start in the Midlands than he was about the prospect of taking on a new challenge at Carrow Road.
Belief
"It was nice to be the first signing," he told
The Observer.
"It says that the trainer believes in me and that's always good when you come to a club.
"The coach wanted me to go to Norwich, so I knew he liked the way I played. So when he went to Aston Villa, I knew that they wanted me.
"For me it was a big club. I wasn't so excited in the beginning with Norwich but Aston Villa is different, I think."
