NDombele: ‘Being at Napoli was a difficult experience, I will learn from it’

Tanguy Ndombele, the former Napoli midfielder, has opened up about his experiences during a press conference to officially introduce himself as a new player for Nice. The French international reflected on his time in Italy and his recent career moves.

Ndombele described his decision to join Nice as a natural choice given his career path. He acknowledged that returning to France was the right move for him at this stage. The midfielder highlighted the importance of his relationship with Florian Maurice, with whom he had previously worked at Lyon, in influencing his decision to join Nice.

When asked about the interest he received during the summer transfer window, Ndombele provided a nuanced response: “Yes and no. There’s a big difference between negotiations and actual offers.” He emphasized that joining Nice was the best choice he could make, given his current need for regular playing time and the desire to rediscover his form.

Addressing his recent challenging seasons, Ndombele said, “We’re not robots, we always need to be prepared.” He mentioned feeling tired upon arrival at Nice and detailed his preparation, including a stay in Merano and a personalized training program. The midfielder expressed hope to play his first match for Nice, possibly as soon as Friday against Leganés.

Reflecting on his experiences abroad, particularly at Napoli and Galatasaray, Ndombele admitted, “It was tough. For me, it was complicated.” However, he maintained a positive outlook, stating, “I don’t just hold onto the bad memories, I learn from the experience. This doesn’t mean I won’t go abroad again in the future.”