Congolese-born striker Bakambu, who played for Beijing Guoan for three seasons, is now back in Europe. He joined Ligue 1 powerhouse Marseille after his contract was terminated with Guoan in January this year. In a recent interview, Bakambu expressed his views on the Chinese Super League (CSL), saying that the Ligue 1 is far more competitive than the CSL and is also highly respected internationally.
Speaking about his integration at Marseille, Bakambu said: "I'm very happy here and have received a warm welcome from the whole team. At first I thought I'd be a bit uncomfortable joining a new team, but I've been very well looked after. It takes time to get to know your teammates and I'm still new here. Although I knew Marseille were a big club, I didn't expect the atmosphere in the dressing room to be so friendly. I've been given a lot of chances to play since I arrived and every minute is precious. I tried to adapt to the pace of the game as quickly as possible and I feel very lucky to have been given so many chances to play and I hope to keep it up."
"I didn't think it would be easy to get back in shape quickly, but now I'm ready for the challenge. I have been actively training and conditioning myself. I am confident in my ability to do better and my physical condition is continuing to improve. Please give me some more time and I'm sure I'll be at my best by the end of the season. Marseille is currently second in Ligue 1 and we have a long season ahead of us and we want to achieve our final goal. I'm sure our efforts will be rewarded in the end."
When asked about the level of Ligue 1, Bakambu cited the Chinese Super League as a reference, saying, "It's an interesting question. How do you evaluate the level of Ligue 1? Internationally, Ligue 1 enjoys a high reputation and I think it is more than one level above the Chinese Super League. It takes a lot of effort from the players to reflect the standard of the league."
Bakambu, 30, joined Beijing Guoan from Villarreal in January 2018 for a €40 million transfer fee, and in his three seasons at Guoan he made 74 appearances and 70 starts, scoring 53 goals and contributing 14 assists. In January of this year, Bakambu was released from his contract with Guoan on a free, and then joined Marseille, where he signed until the summer of 2024. So far, Bakambu has made 2 starts at Marseille and scored 2 goals.
