Ryunosuke Sato: Valencia is a club with a long history, and I'm very happy to be a part of it.

Following his move to Valencia, Ryunosuke Sato made his first public appearance and attended a press conference held by the club. After a busy and productive first week, the Japanese starlet gave his first media interview. Meanwhile, Takefusa Kubo, the Japanese international currently playing for Real Sociedad, recorded a special welcome video to send his best wishes to his compatriot and welcome him to the start of his La Liga career.  

When asked about his feelings on joining Valencia, Ryunosuke Sato said, "Even before I came here, I was well aware of Valencia's important position in Spanish football. After actually joining the team, I can feel the depth and charm of this club every day. I am very happy to be able to wear this jersey."  

“Valencia enjoys a high profile in Japan. Almost every player knows the club and recognizes its status in European football. When they learned that I was going to join Valencia, many people were very surprised and immediately sent me their best wishes.”  

“When I first entered the professional league, I mainly played as a central midfielder, and then gradually took on more of the role of attacking midfielder. Last season, I played as an attacking midfielder for most of the time and performed quite well. Of course, whether I play as an attacking midfielder or a winger, I am confident that I can adapt to different roles. Joining Valencia has always been my goal, so when the opportunity was presented to me, I did not hesitate at all. I believe that coming here will be an important growth experience in my career.”  

“Currently, I have begun to gradually integrate into the team’s training plan and have resumed ball training. So far, everything is going smoothly and my physical condition is getting better and better. My teammates have given me a lot of help, which has helped me adapt to the new environment quickly, and I am very happy about that.”  

“In my opinion, La Liga has always been one of the world’s top leagues, and the level of competition and atmosphere here are very appealing. Valencia is an aggressive and fast-paced team, and every player gives their all for victory. I hope I can integrate into the team as soon as possible and contribute to the team with my performance.”  

"My biggest impression since arriving here is the high intensity and pace of the training, as well as the high demands on technical details. This environment has benefited me greatly. I've always preferred a possession-based style of play, and the team has many outstanding players. If I had to pick a teammate who has left the deepest impression on me, I would choose Guido."  

When discussing the team's goals and his personal expectations for the new season, Ryunosuke Sato said, "Our goal is clear: to achieve better results than last season. Of course, this requires us to be down-to-earth and focus on every game. With the support of our fans, we should show the competitive spirit that Valencia should have, and I will do my best to contribute to the team."  

“Before arriving in Spain, I had already been in contact with Carlos Colberán. He explained the team’s expectations of me and made it clear to me the role I need to play. I can feel his trust and hope to continue to grow under his guidance. He hopes that I can create more opportunities on the offensive end, help the team improve its offensive efficiency, and also have the ability to adapt to different positions.”  

When discussing adapting to life in Spain and becoming the first Japanese player in Valencia's first team history, Ryunosuke Sato said, "For me, leaving Japan is always a new beginning, so I've always kept an open mind. Since coming to Spain, I've gradually adapted to the culture and lifestyle here. I feel very honored to be the first Japanese player in Valencia's first team history, and it's also a responsibility. I will continue to train hard and hope to help the team achieve better results with my performance."  

“Many people think it’s not easy for Japanese players to establish themselves in La Liga, but I don’t take those voices to heart. I believe that as long as you train hard every day and give your all in the game, you will have the opportunity to prove yourself. Takefusa Kubo has already achieved remarkable results in La Liga, and his growth experience is worth learning from. I also hope to continue to get closer to him.”

Image source: Internet/Valencia official website