AEK identified in his face Arnold Mukudithe 24-year-old Cameroonian centre-back, who belongs to Saint-Etienne, the second chosen in an effort to strengthen the rear.

The Union was looking for a footballer who comes from a level above the Super League, has a good age, has a resale value and Improving inhibitory function, which benefits both both competitively and (probably) financially.

Mukudi was one of the cases the Union had on their list and was trying to bring. The choice was not accidental as the search had been focused on France all along. On their radar were Ousmane Kamara and an old acquaintance, Damien Da Silva, among others.

With Mukudi AEK (subject to a shocking contingency) have closed the gaps in central defense and are now focused on strengthening the other positions (wingers, forwards). Once the transfer is complete, Matias Almeida’s task is to fit him into his team and get him a role in the trio.

Mukudi knows a trio in defense

Almeida seems to have the three-man defense on his mind, at least for the first part of the season, to protect his back but also to highlight his axis, which this season turns into a weapon (from an Achilles’ heel).

Last season in Saint-Etienne, Mukudi learned to move in a trio and even to be present in all three positions. As a right footer, however, he was mainly used either as a right stopper or as a central sweeper. Vida is also a right-footed player destined for the right (he also played in that position against Progressives).

Now with the arrival of Mukudi, reclassification is not out of the question. But all will be settled once the Cameroon international, who has been an integral part of Stephanois’ preparations for an immediate Ligue 1 return, trains with the team.

Mukidi’s proof

This is a footballer who is terribly reliable in the high game (1.91), relatively quick for his boy, with a lot of power (his nickname in France is “Sergeant”), which Almeida demands from his players, but also with ability to help offensive development It is recalled that the Argentine Union coach “cut” Fali because he had a problem in that game, despite having defensive qualities.

The Cameroonian stopper is a footballer whose ceiling is higher than what he has achieved so far and he will look to achieve it through AEK. Until then, let’s recall some of the most important of his career to date.

The Academy of Le Havre

Le Havre has one of the most famous academies in French football, if not the best according to many football pundits, despite being absent from Ligue 1 for years.

Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Dmitri Payet, Lassana Diarra, Edouard Mendy, Ferlan Mendy and Steve Mandada are some of the footballers who have played at the highest level and gone through the team’s football “school” in Northern France.

At the lower tier, the footballers who have passed through Havre are many more, including Anthony Le Talec, brother of Damien (who belongs to AEK but isn’t counted by Almeida).

Mukudi first joined Le Havre academy in 2009, joining amateur club Chandigarh for two years and returning after two seasons. He joined the first-team in 2016 and stayed for three years before joining Saint-Etienne as a free agent.

Cameroon’s choice

Mukudi was born in France, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Although he competed with the French national team in the younger age groups, he chose Cameroon for the men. From a young age he wanted to serve his parents’ national homeland.

And so far he seems to justify his choice. He has already “written” 11 appearances with the “Indomitable Lions” and was “present” in three games of the competition at the last Cup of Nations, held in Cameroon, while finally celebrating third place.

Now he is aiming for the World Cup squad. In this case he will face Steven Zuber’s Switzerland and Mijat Gacinovic’s Serbia if they are alternately nominated

Boateng, Bumsong and the interested teams

While still a Le Havre footballer, Mukudi gave an interview to the French website onzemondial in 2018, in which he spoke about different parts of his football life, as well as the players he used as role models who were kept away from Cameroon.

These are Jerome Boateng and Jean-Alain Boumsong, players who have achieved success and played at the highest level, while the latter also toured our country on behalf of Panathinaikos. In fact, Bumsong is a role model for him while he was lucky enough to chat with him.

“I like Jerome Boateng and I watch him. She has the same physique as me. When I was younger I was always compared to Bumsong. Hearing all this, I enjoyed watching their games. I was lucky enough to speak to him a few times. He’s a calm and intelligent guy and he helped me‘ he said characteristically.

In the same interview, he also mentioned the interest that existed for him at the time. He was close to joining Rennes after attracting interest from Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Aston Villa.

He does not dream, but sets goals and works

In the same interview, Mukudi also spoke about the future, how he saw things and himself and to some extent revealed himself. When asked if he had any dreams, he replied as follows: “i have no dreams i have goals I know what I want to do, what career I want to have. And on top of that, I know what kind of person I want to be off the pitch.”

Of course his goal is to play in the Premier League one day because he believes he can react much better in this type of league, which is among the best in Europe. His motto, which he likes to repeat again and again, is: “Talent is no substitute for work”. Time will tell which course he will take with AEK as long as all goes well.