Charlton have currency over Euro giants

Charlton fought off interest from clubs across Europe to land the signature of exciting young right-back Yassin Moutaouakil.

The 20-year-old, the captain of the France U21 team, was at The Valley to put pen-to-paper on the four-year deal after passing a medical on Wednesday afternoon.

And afterwards he told the official website why he had spurned advances from Spanish giants Barcelona, Lazio of Italian Serie A, France Ligue 1 runners-up Marseille and Scottish Premier League champions Celtic - as well as Premiership clubs Aston Villa and Everton.

Via an interpreter, the defender explained: "Many clubs tried to sign me but Charlton did a good job convincing me that this is the best move for me.

"The media in France have been critical of my decision to move to England because, as captain of the U21s, they want me to stay and play in France.

"But I chose Charlton because I feel that this is an ambitious club and I believe that I will progress well under the manager here.

"Charlton have shown great interest in me, for which I am very grateful, and after the discussions I had with the club I wanted to be a part of this project.

"I did not want to sign for a club just because they are a big name, or for the colour of their shirt.

"The most important thing for me is the trust and the confidence that I have in this club.

"It is going to be a difficult season but it is essential that we get back to the Premier League next season for the club and its supporters.

"And I believe we will do it with this team and this manager."

Moutaouakil, formerly of French second-tier side Chateauroux, is Addicks boss Alan Pardew's fourth summer signing - and the youngster was confident that he would be able to impress the Valley chief enough to earn a starting berth next term in the Championship.

Of the man he called 'le gaffer', the attacking full-back said: "I think he is a manager that puts faith in young players; he believes it is the quality not the age of a player that is important.

"I know that Alan Pardew knows me well, he has seen me play many games, and when I met him face-to-face I had a good feeling about him.

"I know that he has put his faith in young players before and I'm hoping that he will do the same for me."

Yassin, who cost the Addicks 600,000 Euros (approximately £400,000), continued: "I think I have the right qualities to play in England because I'm a strong, physical player who likes to tackle. I also like to get forward and put in lots of crosses.

"I like playing right-back, it is the position I play in every game and although my priority is to defend, I also like to do the offensive part of the job as well and help the team to win."

As he surveyed his new surroundings from beside the Valley pitch, the former European U19 Champion was well aware that there would be a period of adjustment.

Pre-season training will commence on July 2nd for the Addicks and Moutaouakil knew it would be a challenging period for him on and off the pitch.

"I must learn English to communicate and integrate with my new teammates, but I am not afraid or nervous," he said of the necessary settling-in period that will ensue.

"I have a feeling that this is a good, family club and although it may be difficult for me in the first couple of weeks because I will have to get used to the language and the weather, once things are going well on the football pitch everything else will just fall into place.

"It will not be a problem for me to settle here."

He added: "My first objective is to get Charlton back in the Premiership and I will give 100 per cent to the club to repay their faith in me."

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