Roma loanee Pau Lopez, who is currently spending the 2021/22 season at Marseille, has opened up on his move to the capital club from Real Betis back in the summer of 2019. He moved on an initial five-year contract worth a €23.5m transfer fee but never looked like he was going to extend his stay at the capital club, eventually losing his place in the starting eleven to new shotstopping acquisition Rui Patricio.
Speaking to the Olympique de Marseille’s official website, the Spanish goalkeeper reflected on his recent career happenings, so far as to revealing that his decision of moving to the Giallorossi was ‘wrong’.
He started: “It’s been a joy to be here.”
I didn’t expect to find my level so quickly after arriving here. I’ve been very well received and I’ve felt great ever since joining, I’m very glad with how things have gone. The city has also been great, which really helps. Everything becomes better when you feel good in the environment you’re in.”
Lopez ‘thought a change of scenery by joining Roma would be important’, but after two years of injuries and inconsistent performances, he believes it was the ‘wrong decision’.
“But it’s taken a lot of work. I arrived here after a few difficult years at Roma, where my level had fallen off a bit. I made the decision to join Marseille because I knew I couldn’t go wrong here.
I felt good at Real Betis and I thought a change of scenery by joining Roma would be important for me. But in hindsight, this was the wrong decision. So, when it came time to pick a new team, I knew that I couldn’t get it wrong this time.”
Everything has gone better than I imagined, I’m very happy. I’m glad to be playing football at my level and have my family alongside me.”
Lopez managed to register 76 appearances for Roma in his two-year stay at the Stadio Olimpico, managing to keep clean sheets in 19 of those matches.