Impact’s latest arrival excited to play under Garde again
Many Impact supporters may not be too familiar with the Impact’s newest recruit, Harry Novillo. The French winger spent a few years playing his professional soccer in Oceania and Asia, although he had originally begun in Olympique lyonnais’ Academy. That’s where he got to know head coach Rémi Garde.
That, and the growth MLS has seen in recent years, are factors that pushed Novillo to experience the beautiful game on this side of the Atlantic.
“To find myself here makes me very happy,” said Novillo. “The staff knows me already, they know my qualities and what I can bring to the team. I’m sure they’ll give me the ability to play my best football as fast as possible.”
Novillo had joined the Impact for a training stint near the end of the 2018 season, invited by Rémi Garde. Although the head coach made it clear that there were no strings attached on either end, it gave Garde an opportunity to reconnect with the French winger, and allowed Novillo to take in the club and its facilities.
“Montreal is a wonderful city,” said Novillo. “I came to visit the facilities and train, to reconnect with the staff and get to know my potential future teammates, which they are today. I was warmly welcomed, as if I was already part of the family.”
Novillo, 26, describes himself as an attacking player. Although he prefers the left wing, the Martinique international is comfortable playing a number of forward positions and plans to make himself available anywhere the head coach seems fit.
“I’m the type of player that looks to move forward,” added Novillo. “I love dribbling, taking defenders on and putting them under pressure. I’m a believer in “modern football.” I have one thing on my mind and that’s to attack. To put it simply, I love beautiful soccer. I think that with the quality I saw in Montreal, it’s the perfect team to integrate into.”
Having experienced a few of Garde’s training sessions when he visited a few months ago, he knows he has his work cut out for him to try and break into the starting 11.
“I’m here to do whatever the coach needs of me. No matter what position I play, I want to give everything to the Impact. I know what I want to do, and I know why I’m at the Impact. I have ambitions and objectives, and I’m here to achieve them.”
