Ricardo Pepi has explained his decision to join PSV, with the USMNT star getting future promises in Eindhoven and a chance to sit on a golden throne.
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Striker impressed on loan at GroningenEarned himself a move to EindhovenHopes to step up again in the futureWHAT HAPPENED?
The United States international completed a €10 million (£9m/$11m) transfer to the Eredivisie giants during the summer window of 2023 – having previously impressed in the Netherlands while on loan at Groningen. Pepi has not always been a guaranteed starter for PSV, but he was aware of that when joining. He shares the club’s ambition, both as a collective and on a personal level, while his arrival at Philips Stadion was announced in some style.
AdvertisementWHAT PEPI SAID
Pepi has told the podcast of opting for a switch to Eindhoven: “I remember talking to Earnie [Stewart]. I talked to him and he spoke to my agent, he said ‘we’re interested in you and the qualities you have, we see you as a good striker and part of our future – we want to develop you and hopefully make that next step for you to a bigger club, but we feel we’re a good club for you and you play the way we want to play’.”
The 20-year-old striker added on the role a golden presentation throne played in his decision to sign: “That was one of the reasons!”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Pepi has been joined at PSV by international colleagues Malik Tillman and Sergino Dest, with there a noticeable American flavour to Peter Bosz’s squad. Pepi added: “When I first came to the club, I didn’t know anything about it. The first couple of weeks before the season started, I started hearing a lot of rumours about Malik and eventually Sergino. I was like OK! I reached out to the guys and was like ‘yo, what’s going to happen?’ They eventually made it to the team and I feel like it’s great. It’s great to have people from the U.S. that I play with in the national team and now with the club. I feel like it helps us on the field and off the field as well.”
WHAT NEXT FOR PEPI?
Pepi is enjoying his time with PSV, hitting six goals through 22 appearances – including his first efforts in the Champions League. He is tied to a contract through to 2028 and will be hoping to have shown by then that he is ready for another step up the sporting ladder.