SOULEYMANE Coulibaly has insisted he feels right at home in Scotland after he penned a one-year deal with Partick Thistle.
The Jags have snapped up the striker following a trial at the club after he endured an unhappy stint in Egypt with Al Ahly last year.
The 23-year-old earned that move due to an impressive spell with Kilmarnock, where he netted 11 times in 26 appearances two seasons ago.
And the former Ivory Coast under-17 internationalist, who also spent time down south with Tottenham Hotspur and Peterborough United, is determined to recapture that form after sealing his move to Firhill.
He said: “I’m very pleased to sign here.
“I was at home with my family when my agent phoned to say I had an opportunity with Partick and I just took the opportunity right away.
“I know Scotland. I consider it my country because my small boy was born here in Kilmarnock, so I’m very Scottish.
“Not my accent! But I’m happy to be here, personally, and I’m looking forward to starting the season strongly.”
Coulibaly became an instant fans’ favourite after joining Kilmarnock in 2016 and earned the Rugby Park outfit a reported £800,000 when he made the ill-fated switch to Al Ahly.
But he claimed he did not feel safe in Egypt and left under a cloud last summer just six months into his three-and-a-half-year deal.
Ahead of a possible debut away to Dundee United this weekend, he added to Jagzone: “Scotland is like home because when I was here the people were happy and they love football.
“Even if you lose the game they are fine with you if you have given 100 per cent. I like that.
“I’m happy to be here and I hope to make the fans happy.
“I’ve already told the manager I’m ready [to play]. Mentally, I am ready and if I am mentally ready that means my body is ready.”
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