Just a few weeks after signing for OM, the Spanish full-back has seemingly made a home for himself in the squad.

If there were any doubts, they’ve certainly been dispelled after a week’s preseason training in Port-Crouesty: the passion surrounding OM is enormous and well exceeds the southern city’s official boundaries. ”It’s been great. There’s been loads of people at every session and at the game,” he said at the Commanderie on Tuesday morning, before heading out to visit apartments. ”It’s very different for me, because OM would appear to have fans all over France.”

Not hurried and always polite and abiding, the player took time out to answer our questions.

Just three weeks after his arrival, the young defender now feels right at home. His perfect French language skills probably helped the first (and only for the moment) signing settle in.
”My integration has gone really smoothly,” explained this Luis Figo fan. “The other players, the supporters, the club, everyone has been so nice. The only thing that could be difficult is that I’m changing club for the first time. But with everyone here helping, I’m sure its better this way.”
Seeing the player laughing with Souley Diawara, Lucho and the Brazilians, it would appear that the training camp in Brittany has accelerated the process.
”We’ve spent a lot of time together,” he explained. ”We’ve been eating together, living together and that helps make bonds. I have to speak French with my teammates and that has helped with my adaptation.”
He’s not overly surprised by the physical training he’s had to endure, but he looked in good form against Vannes last Friday and even let fly with a stunning left-foot volley which still brings a smile to the face of the man himself: ”I don’t score very often and I hope this year I’ll score more often,” he admitted, before adding that he can see he plays in ”a very good team.” Azpi also is eagerly awaiting the return of the players that took part in the World Cup so he can get to know the likes of Mandanda, Valbuena and Heinze.  
That will happen as soon as Sunday for some as the team heads to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and a training camp in his native Basque region. ”Very close to Pamplona, so I can catch up with my family and my friends who will come to see me in my new jersey.”