New Crystal Palace signing Cheick Doucoure has revealed exactly what Eagles boss Patrick Vieira said to him that convinced him to join the club this summer.
Cheick Doucoure said: “He [Vieira] told me ‘I’m going to make you better. He said ‘I know your game and I’ve known it for a while so I know what you need.’ I think that I’m going to work well. I want him to bring me what I’m missing from my game. I want him to teach me a lot of things to reach the highest level. He’s been a really important factor in me joining. My game is not is not perfect yet. I know that I have to work with humility.”
Doucoure made 130 appearances for Lens across four seasons, helping the club gain promotion to Ligue 1 in 2020 and becoming one of the team’s most important players as they finished last season in seventh place. A full Mali international, Doucoure has also represented the Eagles five times and will now have another Eagle on his chest in south London.
Cheick Doucoure added: “I’m a believer. It’s destiny and destiny always does nice things. I couldn’t sign anywhere apart from Palace. I’ve been an Eagles since my childhood so this is a good thing. I know the Palace fans expect a lot from me. I’m going to work hard and I will make sure they’re happy to have me as a Palace player.”
