‘I love pressure’ – Tarik Muharemovic’s first words as a Leeds United player

Tarik Muharemovic says he was adamant on joining Leeds United once he learned more about the club’s interest.

The £34million signing, the most expensive of the 49ers era, officially became a Whites player on Friday and has already met a few of his new teammates.

The Bosnian is billed as the replacement for Pascal Struijk, who left for Brighton & Hove Albion in an £18m switch last month.

“The level [of excitement] is very high, it’s top. The days they were talking, I was just like, 'Please get it done, I just want to go,'” said the smiling 23-year-old in his first club interview.

He added: “I know that it is a big and historical club. I know a lot. I followed since I heard about the interest that I could come here. I watched a lot, especially I watched a lot of videos about the fans, that every game is sold out, so it is just incredible.

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“I directly knew what the ambitions are and the club told me what the ambitions are, so we want to get the club back where it belongs to. I just can’t wait to see the whole team.”

Half of the £34m fee will go to former club Juventus, who attached a 50% sell-on clause during his £1.7m transfer to Sassuolo only last summer. During his time with the Old Lady’s Next Gen programme, he was able to train with the first team.

“I learned a lot at Juventus,” explained the 6ft 4in Murehamovic. “I had the chance to train and learn from [Giorgio] Chiellini and [Leonardo] Bonucci and from great coaches like [Massimiliano] Allegri and my youth coaches. A lot of tactical but a lot of training only for defenders, so I am happy I passed it.”

Asked to describe his temperament, Murehamovic said: “As a player I will give everything for this club. I will give everything, every game. I just want to win, I hate to lose. I will fight for every ball even if it’s my head or my feet, I’m going. I love [a tackle].”

He added: “I love pressure, I need pressure. We had this in Sassuolo as well. To come back in Serie A, to fight for Europe was good as well.”

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