One of our favorite Frenchmen was at Marca the other day, and true to form, they made him pose with some rather awkward objects. Or maybe he asked them to, because he wanted a chance to show off his Gucci sneakers.
And as usual, here are my chosen excerpts from the interview. Read on for Karim’s thoughts on teammates, free time and tapas…
(part 2 of the interview will be out today)
(UPDATE: nothing noteworthy in the second part of the interview – only football-related questions!!!)
Q: Do you feel that you have grown as a person and as a footballer during these months at Madrid?
A: Yes. On the personal level, I have matured because I now live alone, although it was hard after being with my family for so long. In football, I’ve progressed little by little. Here they work harder than in Lyon, but I still need time to grow and play at a higher level. When you change your team and your city, you always need time to adapt.
Q: Are you feeling more comfortable with the team and the city?
A: It was difficult in the beginning, because I was always amongst friends and family before. Going out on my own was difficult, but I feel better every day. My teammates have also helped. I’m very shy, and although I can understand and speak a bit, I don’t do so a lot because of my shyness.
Q: Who do you get along with the most?
A: With everyone, I joke around with everyone. Casillas, Pepe, Marcelo… Lass is the one who has helped me the most with the language, but I get along well with all my teammates.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I enjoy spending time with friends. I like listening to music and I also watch some TV in Spanish to learn the language.
Q: Have you gone to have tapas yet?
A: I tried them in the Plaza Mayor and I liked them.