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Brighton spent another summer deciding what to do with Facundo Buonanotte, and this time the midfielder appears convinced they have found the right answer. After a difficult year split between Chelsea and Leeds United, the 21-year-old needed somewhere he could finally find some stability. There was no shortage of interest, with River Plate, Rosario Central and Boca Juniors all linked with bringing him back to Argentina. Elche eventually won the race, agreeing a season-long loan with Brighton. Speaking ahead of his potential La Liga debut, Buonanotte has now explained just how quickly they convinced him. Argentina’s Olé carry his comments, with the player revealing a conversation with Elche manager Martín Anselmi effectively ended his search for a new club. “It’s true that when the possibility of Elche came up, I spoke to Martín and told him I didn’t want to hear anything else and wanted to come here. I have people I know who spoke very highly of the city and the club, and from the little time I’ve been here I’ve already realised that’s the case. “My teammates and the coaching staff welcomed me in the best possible way. I’m very happy, my family are too, so we’re preparing ourselves and I have no doubt it’s going to be a very good season.” What Anselmi offered him Facundo Buonanotte’s conversation with Anselmi was initially less about tactics and more about giving the Brighton player the right environment after a frustrating period. They discussed how comfortable he could be in Elche, the city itself and the atmosphere around the club. “We had a very positive conversation which I really liked, and I chose Elche,” he said. “We didn’t talk much about tactics yet. It was more about the human side, that I was going to feel comfortable, that it was a very nice city and the same with the club, with people who are very close to you. Maybe that’s what I was looking for.” Buonanotte has spent the past couple of seasons moving around in search of regular football. His Chelsea loan produced very few Premier League minutes, before another move to Leeds also failed to give him the continuity he wanted. He is happy to acknowledge that himself. “I had the last half of the season at Chelsea and the other at Leeds. The reality is that I couldn’t play much, but I see it as a positive step. I always try to see it as a positive step.” “I want to leave that season behind and focus on this one. I’m very happy, positive and things are going to go in the best possible way for me.” Number 10 and a clear role Facundo Buonanotte has also been handed Elche’s number 10 shirt, another indication of the responsibility awaiting him in Spain. The Brighton loanee says playing behind the striker remains his preferred role, although he is comfortable moving outside and swapping positions during matches. “I consider myself a player who likes to have the ball a lot and obviously provide assists and goals. In the position I play those are the most important things, but there are many other things to do as well.” “I also like defending. Of course I’m not the typical number 10 who waits for the ball. I’m also very committed when it comes to defending and I consider myself that type of player, ‘aguerrido’, as we say in Argentina.” “I like playing behind the number nine. That’s the position where I feel most comfortable, but I also like playing out wide, swapping positions, going outside or coming inside. It depends on the match.” He is fit enough to be involved immediately, having completed pre-season with Brighton before the transfer. Buonanotte explained that he only missed Elche’s latest friendly because he arrived too late and needed rest following the journey. Attention is on the start of La Liga Survival is the obvious first target for Elche, although their new number 10 is already thinking a little bigger. “I think the basis is staying in La Liga, but I think the team is capable of more. There are very good players, but beyond that it’s a very united group. For me that’s the main thing, and to fight for big things you need a united group.” After the uncertainty and constant changes of the past year, that sense of belonging appears to be exactly what Buonanotte was looking for. Brighton will now hope it translates into the one thing their midfielder has been missing most – regular football.