“Everyone has dreams” – El Mala makes future admission amid Premier League links

Said El Mala has opened up about his decision to stay at 1. FC Köln and his ambitions for the future amid ongoing transfer interest.

During the summer, Said El Mala was heavily linked with a move away from 1. FC Köln, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Borussia Dortmund among the clubs to have shown interest. 

However, he ultimately decided to stay and sign a contract extension until 2031.

In an interview with RTL and Sky, the German international reflected on a busy summer.

“I chose Köln because I simply felt comfortable here. I didn’t want to leave, even though there were a lot of enquiries,” El Mala said.

“Of course, I listened to what everyone had to say. That’s perfectly normal.

“But I had a lot of discussions with the club’s board and the coach, and listened to their plans for the team. Looking at things now, those plans have been implemented exactly as promised. I want to make the city and the club happy through my performances and those of the team.”

Although he chose to sign a long-term contract extension, speculation surrounding El Mala’s future has continued, with several Premier League clubs and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly among those monitoring his situation.

However, the 20-year-old is unlikely to remain at Köln forever, with the youngster opening up about his ambitions:

“Everyone has dreams. At some point, I want to achieve great things and play in the Champions League. I can’t say when that moment will come. But it will happen eventually.”