Cillessen: It's better to start with Valencia than be on the bench at Barcelona Valencia The signing reflected on his new challenge

At 35 million euros, Jasper Cillessen became one of Valencia's most expensive signings and it was his desire to play regular football that brought this transfer about.

Despite being highly valued at Barcelona, he wanted to start and he has explained that this was the motivation for his exit.

When you heard about Valencia's interest, you didn't listen to any other offers. Why?

"Because I want to play football and Valencia are a club with a great history. They have a great team and for me it was a great option. That's why I'm here, the most important thing at this stage of my career was to play every single match again, and here I have the opportunity to do that."

With Marc-Andre ter Stegen at Barcelona, did you see that as impossible?

"When I arrived at Barcelona, Ter Stegen was on a different level than he is right now. After three years he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I think we both improved by training together, but it was time for me to leave."

Did the national team suggest to you that if you weren't playing then you'd lose your place with them?

"No, they never told me that."

At Valencia you have competition from Jaume Domenech, how do you feel he is going to play?

"Jaume played very well in the Copa del Rey last year, but I left Barcelona to play, that's why I came here. Although, the decision will be made by the coach, not me."

It's not usual for a Barcelona player to sign for Valencia, what has to occur in order for that to happen?

"I haven't had any problems with Barcelona. For me, the most important thing is to play, it's the only reason I'm here. For me to come to Valencia doesn't represent a backward step. Between being on the bench at Barcelona or playing at Valencia, then playing at Valencia is much better. It's easy to make this decision. It's not a step back."

The last Barcelona goalkeeper that signed for Valencia was Andoni Zubizarreta, do you hope to follow on from him?

"He wasn't bad huh? That's not a bad example to follow."

You arrive at Mestalla after spells with Ajax and Barcelona, but do you think Valencia are a top club?

"Yes, for me Valencia are a top club. This year they won the Copa del Rey and are going to play in the Champions League. They have a great history and a great team. For me, this is a top-level club."

Valencia didn't win a trophy for 11 years before 2019, are you aware that if you want to win titles then you'll have to break records?

"I would like to change that, yes."

Is it true you wrote in your diary at age nine that you want to be the best goalkeeper in the world?

"Yes, but I believe that every single child wants that."

But not all of them put it in writing, do they?

"That's true, but I did. When I was a child, I wrote a lot and this is one of the messages I put on paper. Because of my personality, I want to win everything, I always am looking to improve and that's why I want to be the best in the world, but it's not so easy."

Were you always a goalkeeper?

"The first three or four years of my career I played outfield, then I became a goalkeeper. First, I was a forward, then a midfielder because we had too many forwards and in the end, a goalkeeper. I didn't change my position because I wasn't good enough outfield, but because there were so many players and I just wanted to play."

How did you come back from suffering a serious injury for a goalkeeper after signing for NEC Nijmegen at age 11?

"In my second year there, I broke my arm twice and it took me six months to recover on both occasions. The first time, a teammate fell on me, but the second time it was in training and I suffered a blow on it, probably because it hadn't fully healed the first time."

I guess you know that Valencia are interested in signing Rafinha, have you talked to him about his possible arrival?

"He's a very good player, but he's had very bad luck with injuries. It would be very important for him to come here with this system and the coach, he's my friend and I want him to come here."

Saturday night was the initiation for the new players at Valencia, is it true you had to sing?

"Yes, the music was a little quiet and it was difficult for people to hear, but I think it's probably better for everyone that I don't sing again."

Do you know that the verb 'to sing' is used in Spanish when a goalkeeper makes a mistake?

"No, I didn't know that. I'm Dutch and I don't have the Spanish rhythm, that's why I'm a lot calmer."