Claudine Mendy is Budućnost’s first new signing for next season

The 22-year-old French woman, who has played at Metz for the past two seasons, signed a one-year contract with this year’s EHF Women's Champions League finalists, with the option to extend for another year.

Mendy signed the contract in Paris with the president of Budućnost, Predrag Bošković, and she spoke to ehfCL.com about her new adventure and expectations playing for Montenegro champions.

ehfCL.com: What are your first impressions after signing the contract with Budućnost?
Claudine Mendy: I am excited. I’ve been considering this offer for more than a month, because it was a big decision. But I hope everything will be ok. I hope the fans will help me.

ehfCL.com: Why you decided to come to Buducnost?
Claudine Mendy: I think I need to learn lot of things to become a better player, and to do that I need to go to a big club. Budućnost contacted to me, and gave me this chance because they have great players and they almost everytime play in the Main round of EHF CL.

ehfCL.com: This is the first time you will have played for a club outside France. How do you feel about that, especially given that some people in France think you’re too young for this move?
Claudine Mendy: Yes, I am young. But, sometimes when you are offered a chance like this you need to take it, because maybe it’s the last one. I don’t know if I will like Montenegro, or if the people there will like me, but I think I am ready. So, it’s my decision and if I make a mistake, it will be mine, not somebody’s else. I prefer to try now when I am young, than at end of my career.

ehfCL.com: What do you know about Montenegro?
Claudine Mendy: Everyone tells me that Montenegro is great, so I want to see it.

ehfCL.com: This year with Metz you had a chance to play in Podgorica against Budućnost. What impression did you get about the home fans in “Morača” hall?
Claudine Mendy: I was impressed. There were a lot of fans in the hall, and they really supported the team.

ehfCL.com: Your future team is going to play in the final of this year’s EHF Champions League against Györi AUDI ETO. Who will win the title?
Claudine Mendy: I don’t know, but it will be a great final. Both team are very strong, with great players. But, Györi don’t have Bojana Popović. So, we will see…

ehfCL.com: Since Bojana Popović announced that she will retire after this season (along with Maja Savić), you will step in her position. Will that be a difficult task, as she has been one of the best players in the world in the past decade?
Claudine Mendy: I am not coming to Budućnost to replace Bojana Popović, because that’s not possible. I have lot of respect for the player, and we are not comparable.

ehfCL.com: Your last matches for Metz will be against Arvor in the semi final of the French championship play-offs. Do you think Metz will successfully defend the title?
Claudine Mendy: Yes, and I hope maybe next season I can play in the Champions League against my friends.

* The good news for fans of Budućnost is that right back Katarina Bulatović will stay for one more year in Podgorica. And Budućnost have already announced that German goalkeeper Clara Woltering has also extended her contract for one more year.