Ricardo Pepi: “Willing to take the risk” to join Augsburg – “Doesn’t feel pressure” of big transfer fee

Interview with USMNT star 

It was one of the biggest transfers of the winter transfer window; Ricardo Pepi joined Bundesliga side FC Augsburg in a deal worth $18 million. In a media roundtable, Pepi chatted about finally scoring his first Bundesliga goal, his decision to leave FC Dallas, why he joined relegation-threatened Augsburg, and the pressure of a big transfer fee.

Augsburg made Pepi the club’s record transfer when he was signed in January. The transfer made Pepi the most expensive outgoing MLS homegrown player, breaking the record set by Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies in 2019. Pepi is also the second most expensive outgoing transfer in Major League Soccer history (overview). 

Pepi also almost doubled Augsburg’s previous record transfer. The Bundesliga club’s previous transfer record was $11.55 million, which the club paid for defender Martin Hinteregger in the 2016/17 season (overview).

Pepi on Augsburg transfer: “It is a big investment for sure” 

“It is a big investment for sure,” Pepi said. “If it was easy, everyone would do it. I’m a young player moving from MLS to one of the big leagues, and it takes time. It is a big transfer, but I don’t feel the pressure. I have to be patient and work every day to become a better player and succeed in this league.”

The Bundesliga, however, is a pressure cooker, and with relegation being a real threat, there is no doubt that Augsburg primarily signed Pepi to provide goalscoring. After all, the teenager scored 13 goals and two assists in 31 MLS games last season.

Scoring in the Bundesliga has been more difficult. The 19-year-old El Paso, Texas native, has featured in 207 minutes spread over five games this season but is yet to find the net. “I have come here for a reason, and it is all part of my development. I feel more comfortable every week that passes. I have to be patient, but I am also very anxious to score my first Bundesliga goal for sure.”

Pepi acknowledged that it is quite a transition from playing Major League Soccer to be playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues. “The speed of play and the level of technique players have is a little different,” Pepi said. “I am adapting a bit better, and soon I hope I can do some damage to other teams and help my team.”

Pepi “not really worried” about relegation – Knew about “the risk”

Augsburg certainly need the goals. The Fuggerstädter are currently below the relegation dropline in 16th spot, which would see Augsburg play in the relegation playoffs, possibly against a former Bundesliga heavyweight like Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, or Schalke.

Furthermore, in VfB Stuttgart, a talented team sits just behind Augsburg, trying to escape direct relegation. In other words, the threat of relegation for Augsburg is real. That, in turn, has raised the question of what would happen to record signing Pepi? Would the teenager go down to 2. Bundesliga?

“I am not really worried about it,” Pepi said when asked about the prospect of second division football. “I feel we have a good group of players, and I have come here for a reason. Obviously, I was aware of the risks, and it was a risk I took. But there is no focus on relegation here; we’re focused on winning the next game and go day-by-day; we just focus on the next game, which is Dortmund on the weekend.”

Ricardo Pepi in action for FC Augsburg. The striker is yet to score his first Bundesliga goal.

Then there is the transfer itself. Pepi acknowledged that it was a significant risk to leave the comforts of FC Dallas and join Augsburg in what will be a crucial World Cup year. Augsburg came in late to beat out bigger clubs—including Volkswagen-owned VfL Wolfsburg—to land Pepi. For many Bundesliga observers, it was a surprise that Augsburg beat out more ambitious clubs with deeper pockets.

Pepi: Augsburg transfer “not about the money” – “Dreams” about the UCL 

In David S. Blitzer, Augsburg, of course, have an American investor, and his money helped beat out competition like Wolfsburg, who offered just around $10 million for the striker. With that in mind, there have been questions on whether the transfer to a relegation-threatened club was about money rather than ambition and development?

“It was not about money; I don’t play football because of money,” Pepi quickly said when confronted with the question while also admitting that he was not entirely in tune about possible destinations. “I do it for myself and also my family to take care of them, but in this case, it was more my family and my agent that were talking about everything that was going on.”

Pepi, in fact, would have been happy to play another year or two in MLS. “Augsburg talked to my agent, and FC Dallas and both teams decided to have an agreement,” Pepi said. “My agent then called me and asked me: ‘hey, what do you think about Augsburg?’ He told me about the risks I was taking going to them because they are in the relegation zone, and I said: ‘Yeah, I am willing to take the risk.'”

At the end of the day for Pepi, the move to Augsburg and the Bundesliga was not about a short-term move. Instead, the American stressed that he wants to be part of a long-term project and develop. “Every player dreams about playing in the Champions League. Hopefully, I can do it here.”

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