The joker, the departures of Sebastian Karlsson and Karl Konan, the MHB squad next year… president Julien Deljarry takes stock

Le président Deljarry a fait le point sur les dossiers du moment. MIDI LIBRE – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

On the occasion of the announcement of the extension of Kyllian Villeminot's contract until 2028, the president of Montpellier Handball Julien Deljarry took stock of the current files between departures or future arrivals.

The departure of Karl Konan to PSG after 2025

"The discussion with Karl Konan was in parallel with that started with Kyllian Villeminot. The difference is that the one with Karl is pushed more by the other clubs who are envious than anything else. It wasn't the time but we had to have it. This is a file that is not easy because he is one of the best in his position, and the resources elsewhere are more important than ours.

We make choices, we first choose the team rather than the individual. The proposal I made to Karl is very honest. But I also have to organize the recruitment of the assistant coach, the physical trainer and how I organize the academy. That’s the priority at the moment. The proposition is in Karl's camp, it's up to him to make his choice."

The interest of other clubs in Sebastian Karlsson

"For Sebastian Karlsson, these are rumors: there is nothing very concrete that has come back to me. Sebastian didn't come to see me to tell me that he wanted to leave or that clubs had come to see him. He has a contract until 2026-2027, so I am even less alarmed. Once again I preserve the interest of the club and the group.

I preserve the interests of my No.1, Yanis Lenne, whom I extended a few weeks ago. We recruited Sebastian Karlsson as No.2 because we wanted someone with very good value for money. So if there are any offers, we'll see. For the moment he is an MHB player."

Next year’s squad

"A squad is never closed. For me, it was on paper but we have a new coach who will arrive. There may be one or two changes in the event of a desire to leave permanently or young players who want to be loaned. We have mainly targeted possibilities just in case. I am not closed to changes because there is a change of coach at the end of the season. We build the workforce with Eric so that it is the workforce of Eric Mathé."

The coming of a joker

"The question of the joker has been on the table, today it is far from it. Patrice surveyed the market and I gave two conditions: that it fits into our budget, and that he plays because we can't afford to take a player case and he is not on the bench. Today, player profiles do not meet these conditions.

I know it's difficult for the players because we have injuries, we play every three days, the captain told me that.' ;nbsp;But today are Kyllian Prat or Lucas Guigon not solutions ? I think so. We have ten professional players and five young people. So going for a player at 7 or 8,000 euros so that he needs time to acclimatize or he is on the bench, I wanted him. #39;avoid because you can't afford it."