Thomas Lemar happy to miss out on holidays to start early at Atletico Madrid

MADRID, JULY 30 — Atletico Madrid on Monday presented new signing Thomas Lemar to the press and public with the forward saying he had joined one of the most important clubs in the world.
The 22-year-old French international was part of the squad which won this summer’s World Cup in Russia, but has forgone part of his holidays because he “wanted to meet his new companions.”
“I have seen some of them, but I wanted to know them all and to see the fans in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium,” he said.
“I haven’t had a long holiday, but that doesn’t matter. I want to play and to get to know everyone. There will be more holidays in the future,” he said, adding that after winning the World Cup, his aim now was to win the Champions League with Atletico.
Lemar joins his French team-mates Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Vazquez at the Wanda and explained “a lot about the club and how they work.”
“They say it is a club that will help me to progress as a player: a club with great players and who will help me.”
“It is different to Monaco (his former club) and more demanding, but I don’t mind about that: I think I have the capacity to work and to cover a lot of ground. If the work is demanding then I will give everything,” said the forward.
While Lemar was being presented in Madrid, Atletico’s pre-season continued with a 3-2 defeat to Paris Saint Germain in the International Champions Cup being played in the USA. A last minute goal saw Atletico slip to defeat in a game where they had fought back from 2-0 down, but missed chances through Kevin Gameiro and Luciano Vietto. – XINHUA