The former Tigers star has once again linked up with the Tigers owner
Jean Michael Seri says his relationship with Acun Ilicali was a key reason in him deciding to join Slovenian outfit NK Maribor on a contract until 2027.
Seri, who was a firm favourite at Hull City until he decided to quit the club last summer following Tim Walter’s arrival, had been playing in Saudi Arabia wth Al-Orabah.
That move to the Gulf didn’t work out for the Ivory Coast ace and he has since opted to move back to Europe, joining Maribor, the club owned by City chief Ilicali.
The Turkish businessman was instrumental in bringing the now 34-year-old to the MKM Stadium in the summer of 2022, with Seri going on to be a fan favourite during his two years and 77 appearances.
“To be honest, I don’t think about everything I’ve done in the past,” the AFCON winner said. “I’d rather say that I’m starting my career now. I’m still young, in terms of my lifestyle, but there’s also a lot of passion in the way I look at football. It doesn’t matter where I am at a certain point in my career.
“Now I’m in Maribor and I’m starting a new path here, with big ambitions. I want to help the club get to where it deserves to be. I know the history of Maribor, which played in the Champions League. This club deserves to return to the elite competition, and that’s what my goal at this club is related to.
“The decision was easy because I know the owner (Ilicali). We’re friends, he’s a nice, passionate president who wants to build something big here and has big ambitions.
“I’m happy that I joined him. When he called me and said he needed me, I had no doubts. That made the decision easier. I’m happy to join the club and I’ll do everything in my power to help achieve our common goals.”
An ankle hampered his spell in Saudi Arabia, restricting Seri to just six appearances and one goal. But the midfielder remains confident he can be back to his best once recovered.
“I will take my recovery day by day and hopefully join the team soon,” the former Nice, Barcelona and Fulham midfielder continued. “It will be a step-by-step process. I cannot say at the moment when I will be ready to play again, but with the physiotherapists, fitness trainers and the technical staff, we will do everything we can to make sure I am one hundred per cent ready for the purpose of helping the team.
“I bring not only experience but also quality in terms of play. There are already a lot of very good players here. I would like to join them and help us achieve something special during the time I will spend here. From what I have seen, it is noticeable that we have a lot of quality. But we have to become a team, and I want to contribute my part to that purpose.”
Maribor, meanwhile, have snapped up former City loanee Oscar Zambrano on a permanent deal and also struck an agreement for talented 18-year-old midfielder Luis Fernando Carrero from Deportivo Táchira. The highly-rated Venezuelan teenager arrives on loan with an option to buy next summer, and was previously linked with a move to the Tigers.
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