Japanese attacking-midfielder Ritsu Doan discussed returning to the Bundesliga and what it means to join a club like Freiburg.
The DFB Pokal finalists completed the signing of Doan from PSV for a reported €9m on Tuesday.
“Obviously PSV has the more famous name, but from my perspective as a professional footballer today, Freiburg is a big club in the Bundesliga, qualifying for the Europa League and making it into the DFB Pokal final,” Doan told Kicker.
“This is a club that develops year after year. There are no crazy ups and downs in Freiburg like some others. That’s a very, very good sign for me.”
Speaking about his discussions with Freiburg head coach Christian Streich, Doan added: “It was important for me to talk to the coach about his ideas before my move. In terms of football in general and my role.
“The philosophy is similar to that of Roger Schmidt in Eindhoven. After losing the ball and going straight into a counterpress. I can identify with that very well and when we have the ball, I can and should develop freely and not sticking to the right wing, but being variable, playing in the centre and sometimes going to the left.”
Doan spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Arminia Bielefeld, which gave him his first taste of the Bundesliga. “The league is strong than the Eredivisie, there’s no question about that,” added the 24-year-old.
“That’s why I really wanted to go back. I would have liked to have stayed with Arminia back then but the club didn’t have the money to buy me from PSV.”
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