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We Can Go Up, Says New Boy Matz
Written by Newcastle Utd
Matz Sels revealed he turned his back on interest from the Premier League in favour of joining Newcastle United
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
After signing a five-year deal at St. James' Park, goalkeeper Matz Sels has revealed he turned his back on interest from the Premier League in favour of joining Newcastle United.
Twenty-four-year-old Sels arrived on Tyneside on Tuesday to complete his transfer from Gent.
And the Belgian stopper, who helped his former club to the last 16 stage in the Champions League last season, told nufcTV he was delighted to have signed for the Magpies - a club he's familiar with, thanks to a certain Belgian defender.
"I'm very happy to be here. One week ago, Newcastle showed that they were interested in me. I had a call with the coach, Rafa, and after this my decision was made really fast," said Sels.
"In Belgium, if you say Newcastle, everybody knows Philippe Albert, so it's really a big club in Belgium. There were also other clubs from the Premier League interested, but the most important thing is that we can go up with this club next year - where this team belongs. I hope I can help the team to go there.
"It's really a big club, they have a lot of supporters, and I hear that the season tickets are almost sold out, and this shows that it is really a big club. I'm happy to be here and I hope I can help the team to go back to the Premier League."
Sels is the first Belgian player to join Newcastle since centre half Albert, still revered by United fans, checked in in 1994.
But the recruit said that it was the presence of Benitez in the St. James' Park dugout that proved to be a major influence on his decision to become the Spaniard's first signing at the Club.
"When I heard he was staying as a coach here, it was really important for me because I think he has already won so many prizes," said Sels.
"I had a call with him and my decision was made very fast. I hope I can learn a lot from him and also from the goalkeeper trainer, and I hope I can improve myself a lot here.
"It's really important for me to train with Benitez. He has achieved so many things, he won the Champions League, and it was really important for me to have a good feeling with the trainer."
You can watch Matz Sels' exclusive interview with nufcTV here