Welsh flag as he talks up and being abroad
WALES star Rabbi Matondo has said it was an easy decision to leave Manchester City to join Schalke earlier this year.
The 19-year-old made the move from Cardiff City to the Etihad Stadium in 2016, but after failing to break into the first team, Matondo made the bold decision to move to Germany during the January transfer window.
He made eight appearances in all competitions for his new club last term.
And Matondo – who is currently on international duty with Wales ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Slovakia tomorrow and Croatia on Sunday – admits his lack of game time under Pep Guardiola played a major part in his decision to move abroad.
“I have always lived away from my family – they are in Cardiff and I moved to play for Manchester City,” he said.
“It wasn’t so hard thinking I had to move abroad – it’s not too far away.
“I wouldn’t say it was hard. I was looking forward to it – it was quite an easy decision to make.
“It wasn’t that I couldn’t see a pathway. I believe in myself. Obviously at Manchester City it is tough – all the players are top players.
“But it was more that I had the opportunity to go and play first-team football and at the time I didn’t have that at Manchester City, so I preferred to play first-team football so I took the opportunity.”
Matondo is one of four players in Wales’ 26-man squad plying their trade on the continent at present.
He followed in Jadon Sancho’s footsteps when opting to leave the Etihad, with the young Englishman joining Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
And Matondo admits Sancho’s progress in Germany played a part in his decision to move to the Bundesliga.
“If I can do as well as he has done so far then I will be really happy. He is doing well and hopefully he continues to do so,” added the winger.
“He is a great player. I have always known that since being at Manchester City with him how good he can be and how good he will be. Hopefully he can help me as well.
“I have always watched Jadon, even when we were young. He didn’t make me move to Germany, but of course he is doing so well there and when it came around I thought why not?”
Matondo netted his first goal for Schalke in a 3-1 win over Ethan Ampadu’s RB Leipzig last month.
And the youngster is hoping he can continue to develop having broken his duck with David Wagner’s side.
“It was crazy. Obviously I was happy. I thought I was offside,” he added.
“It all sunk in later in the day when I was by myself thinking about the game.
“It’s only one goal and it’s only my first start of the season.
“But hopefully I can get many more minutes this season and contribute with goals and assists and help the team climb the table.”
The club have also assisted the Wales international with learning the German language, something Matondo believes is key to helping him settle in his new surroundings.
“I am enjoying it. Where I live there is not much to do – it is quiet in Gelsenkirchen. It’s going well right now,” he said.
“I am not around any distractions of living in Cardiff or Manchester with my friends. It’s nice to be around your friends, but I think being alone I just do more for myself. That’s improved me.
“I am just going out, playing football and doing little extras, going to the gym and stuff like that. And eating good food.
“It’s tough to learn (the language), but I am trying my best. Hopefully over the next couple of months I will be able to learn it properly.
“I do it with the club. There are three or four of us learning German. It’s good.”
“Even though most of the boys can speak English and it’s easier then, I feel like it’s important not just in football but also when you go out to a shop or anywhere.
“People speak German, so of course it’s good if you can speak with them.”
Matondo became something of a hero with Wales’ supporters, the Red Wall, on social media after bagging his first goal for Schalke.
BT Sport labelled the youngster as British in a tweet of his maiden strike for the German outfit, but Matondo duly responded with three Welsh flag emojis.
“We all see what goes on. I put my little opinion on it,” was Matondo’s response. “Everyone knows I am happy playing for Wales. I am Welsh. That’s why I put it out there.
“It was always Wales. I grew up in Cardiff, went to school in Cardiff and have friends in Cardiff. It has always been Wales for me.”
■ The Football Association of Wales has announced BT has signed a multi-year partnership to become the exclusive Lead Partner of all the National Men’s, Women’s, Development and Disability football teams until 2024.
BT will become the exclusive lead partner of all the home nations football until 2024 and their new logo will appear on all Wales team training kits from November.