Why Gyan left Sunderland

Here's the piece just poached off News Now. Two things stand out: 1) the claim of $200,000 a week with his new club, and 2) the following revelation: But even more poignant were the sentiments the player expressed while in Ghana in May. “Sunderland’s team spirit that I know is not the same. Things are not organised. I’m not too happy there. ”

If true, 200k is a lot to turn down. The claim about poor spirit and disorganization at the club? The end product seems to back up the claim.




Asamoah Gyan © Backpagepix
Why Gyan left Sunderland
by Gary Al-Smith 11 September 2011, 01:57

For $200 000 a week, Asamoah deemed it fit to leave the Stadium of Light and head towards the land of the The Spring.

The adjectives to describe have been flowingly negative from Sunderland fans – who accepted him wholeheartedly only a year before – to neutrals and so-called purists who see this as another nail in the casket of the beautiful game.

Gyan’s move to Al Ain (literally meaning ‘the spring’) was surprising, to say the least. But for his boss Steve Bruce, it was disappointing.

Last Saturday, Gyan woke up in the late morning to the news that the man who had discovered him at 13 years had died. Alhaji Sly Tetteh had died while playing football and exercising. Gyan described Sly as his brother, father and friend.

The same man had discovered Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Pantsil and Derek Boateng, among hundreds of other players worldwide. Call him the Ghanaian Arsene Wenger. At Sly’s funeral, Gyan was inconsolable. “We had so many plans and dreams. I wanted him to see me make something meaningful of the things he taught me. Life is too short.”

MAKING HIS MIND

He returned to the Ghana team hotel in his white BMW X6 to pack. His elder brother, Baffour, also a footballer, was waiting for him. They spoke about ‘the situation’ at hand. Gyan had made up his mind. He was heading to the Emirates.

On his way out, SuperSport.com caught with him and asked if, finally, if he was leaving Sunderland for Turkey. He was getting upset, for we had asked him twice already in the previous three days. This time, we told him it had been reported by the BBC. “Are they liars too?” he had asked.

He had made my day. When I got home, I tweeted exactly as he had said to the info-hungry Sunderland fans following me on Twitter. I assured them, confidently, that Gyan was going nowhere. A day before, I had asked Gyan about the increasing rumours of him moving to Fenerbahce. “It would be ungrateful of me to do that to Sunderland, who have been so good to me.”

I had dutifully tweeted that as well. So what had happened in 24 hours? Actually, it was a culmination of Gyan’s feelings since the start of the year.

The player had moved from Rennes to Sunderland on a club record 13 million pounds on transfer deadline day last summer. Steve Bruce had told the media that he had “been looking at him [Gyan] for two years and tried to sign him last summer [2009] but it was not possible”. The coach had acknowledged also that it was “a hell of a lot of money in today's climate but the owner understood the necessity and we've managed to bring in another top class striker.” There was a buzz around the Stadium of Light.

Hope and uncertainty

At the time, Gyan had the reliable Darren Bent as a strike partner and they were expected to fire the Wearside team into the top eight of the Premier League, at least.

And then in January Bent left for Aston Villa, insisting it was for “footballing reasons” and not money. Gyan started feeling lonely upfront, netting just twice between Bent’s departure and Ghana’s game with England.

According to Bruce, who spoke to the media after today’s defeat to Chelsea, this game was crucial in Gyan’s attitudinal calendar. "Since that game at Wembley, all the parasites, as I call them, hover around. People are in his ear constantly trying to engineer a deal for him. Certainly since the England game, when he played at Wembley so well on the night, something has been troubling him.”

The Cats boss is an experienced player and coach, and he could read the signs when he saw them. He was right. In March, Gyan and his agent had spoken about a potential salary raise and they had forwarded the request to the club. Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn had refused, especially because he was not even one year into his deal, and he worried what signals it would send to other players.

The lad was not happy and it started showing. "It's very difficult, the constant speculation, no matter what you try to quash or quell, and the people around him, the people who want to make a fast buck, and it affects him in the end,” Bruce said in today’s media interviews. “He was going from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich to Valencia to Atletico Madrid."

And Galatasaray and Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor. But even more poignant were the sentiments the player expressed while in Ghana in May. “Sunderland’s team spirit that I know is not the same. Things are not organised. I’m not too happy there. ”

The club had been in a mini-crisis. Between February 12 and the end of the season, the Cats had won only three out of 12 games, a situation that that had seen morale drop to dangerous levels.

With Muntari looking like he would not be stay at Wearside the end of the season, John Mensah constantly crocked and Anton Ferdinand, Gyan’s dressing room chum possibly on his way out, some called for Bruce’s head. Asamoah just wanted out.

Heading East

On 7th June, Ghana played South Korea in the Far East. At about the same time, the UAE club Al Ain had decided at a board meeting around their election period that they needed to appease fans with another big signing before the season starts on October 15 this year.

Someone young and fresh, not the regular retirees who patrolled the Emirati fields for huge sums. Eto’o was in the middle of his deal talks with Anzhi and wanted a team capable of getting into the Champions League in the next year. Drogba did not want to leave Chelsea at all. Aguero was not interested.

The unsettled Gyan was in the sub-region and moves were made. He initially rebuffed the offer, as the Turkish deals looked more promising in terms of money and potential Champions League football. When Fenerbahce were looking like making headway, the match-fixing allegations surfaced. Gyan’s people pulled out, especially when top players like Mamadou Niang started leaving the club.

Over the course of the following month Al Ain took moved very quickly and quietly. While the rest of us were embroiled of the “Will he go to Turkey?” circus, the decoy allowed Gyan’s reps and the UAE club to settle things.

Betrayal or a necessary evil?

But there was one party missing – Steve Bruce. He was completely in the dark about it all. It’s the reason he said today that sometimes football leaves a sour taste in the mouth. He had taken a personal liking to Gyan and was worried about his poor showing in the opening games of the season thus far. "I had a conversation with him 48 hours ago and he shook my hand and assured me he wanted to stay at Sunderland," the coach said today.

"Within a few hours things changed. It's disappointing and the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth."

And in his bitterness, he had signed Gyan’s future at Sunderland. There will not be one. "I don't really believe Gyan will have a future here. It baffles me how he can leave the best league in the world to play in the United Arab Emirates. I'll let people make their own conclusions why."

The conclusion is simple: he was not happy; he felt Sunderland’s motivations had waned and he wanted a good deal. Will one of Africa’s brightest striking talents regret this backward move? Can he return to England to the warmth of any fan base? Would anyone take him seriously again? How does it affect his place in Ghana’s national team?

I’m sure he thought about all this. One thing is certain, though. In football when you leave the action, the action leaves you.

We’ll see.

 

Read the SAFC.com statement where Bruce completely contradicts this. The two clubs have been in discussion for the best part of this week. Sunderland thank Al-Ain officials for their professional conduct throughout. And Bruce hopes to bring Gyan back to Sunderland refreshed next season.

Either SAFC.com or Bruce's SSN statement is a pack of unmitigated lies. I don't know which, but they can't both be true.

If SAFC delete their statement from the board (which I imagine they will pretty quickly) see the not606 thread entitled 'Bruce all but coughs it out'. Both statements are on there.

 

It's a money decision.........

Glad it's over with now...Maybe he realised his dream move to Man U was never gonna happen.

Why a loan? best just to cash in on him, cos can't see him being welcomed back.

 

Another nail in Brucies coffin.

 

....Steve Bruce has slammed Asamoah Gyan and said he has no future at Sunderland following his loan move to the Middle East.

The Black Cats were stunned when it was announced the Ghana ace had flown to the United Arab Emirates to sign for Al Ain.

Bruce has brought the likes of Nicklas Bendtner in on loan from Arsenal to provide the goals however he looks to have closed the door on the return of £13million man Gyan.

"I had a conversation with him 48 hours ago and he assured me, he shook my hand, that he wanted to be a Sunderland player, wanted to see the season, wanted to go the African Nations again in good form, wanted to work on his fitness levels then all of a sudden within a few hours it seems things have changed," Bruce told Sky Sports following their 2-1 defeat against Chelsea.

Baffling
"Other people can make their own conclusions. You leave the biggest and best league in the world to go play in the United Arab Emirates.

"I'm sorry but sometimes football, sometimes it's baffling to say the least. Very disappointed in the timing of it, the whole thing has left a bad taste if I'm being honest."

Asked if the 25-year-old striker had a future at the Stadium of Light, he answered: "No I don't, I don't believe that, I don't believe he's got a future here, I don't think he can.

"You can't leave this club and want to leave and want to go the United Arab Emirates and we're going to welcome you back with open arms, I can't see it but you never know

 

Read the ssn article (commachio, above) and compare it with SAFC.com yesterday morning :

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is set to join United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain on loan.

Officials from Al-Ain made contact with Sunderland earlier in the week with a view to signing the player on a permanent deal. After further discussions overnight however, it was agreed that the striker would join the club on a season-long loan.

Sunderland AFC would like to thank the officials from Al-Ain for the professional manner in which they entered into negotiations and the club wishes all parties well.

Manager Steve Bruce said: "Anyone who has seen Asamoah play will know that he hasn't been himself in recent months. This option suits all parties at the present time and the club is well-protected in the deal.

"Asamoah has three years remaining on his contract and of course my wish would be that he finds his spark again and we see him in red and white stripes next season in the form that first attracted us to him."

Gyan joined Sunderland from French side Rennes in August 2010, making 37 appearances in all competitions for the Black Cats and scoring 11 goals.

Bruce, who has added Republic of Korea international Ji Dong-won and England under-21 star Connor Wickham to his attacking options this summer, also welcomed Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner into his squad on transfer deadline day.

I agree with one thing Bruce has said : "The whole thing has left a bad taste, if I'm honest" - bloody right, it has.

 

Would any of us have refused the type of money he has allegedly been offered. I will be honest and say stuff loyalty. If i could increase my wages 5 fold ad be away as well.

Still hate the tw*t for doing it tho and good riddance.

Dont believe this happenend in 48 hours tho so would like answers from SB or SNQ regarding this. Highly unlikely.

 

Gone for the money...a year on loan,what then? does he just expect to come back as if nothings happened? how can playing in a mickey mouse league generate interest for a "big" european team to sign him? will we get our money back on him?

 

Bruce on match of the day actually said 'i don't know why i said that (hopefully he'll be back)'

Bruce looked absolutely gutted about it, he looked in a rage, and i felt for the man.

This one is not Bruce fault, and anyone who tries to pin it on him is wrong.

I'm backing Bruce on this, he's been ****ed over , again, by another greedy bastard.

This will continue to happen until the club is in a position to pay top salaries, this just can't happen until the club correctly markets itself, Ji could help, for sure a Japanese player would help, and an American would help.

America have a number of good players now.

**** knows where we go from here.

 

Beak, I didn't see MotD and didn't know Bruce said that. It does ease the difference between the two statements. Maybe with ssn, he just flew off the handle. Thanks for this.

The loan deal was concluded overnight, so maybe he was involved or maybe he was in bed. We'll never know.

 

Probably because he didn't. That would be the odious spinmeisters who compose the news releases. Don't expect the truth!!

 

Likely when it's initially happened Bruce has released a media friendly statement, as he's god with the media.

Then, after a defeat, he's thought '**** this, why defend the boy' and came out with how he feels.

I felt for him watching it, iplayer it , or maybe even on youtube by now, he looked lost by it.

 

I was totally amazed at the supposed self contradiction, but found his seeming honesty somewhat refreshing.

 

Yeah, it was crazy, the sky interview 'Gyan commited, gotta get him back to hi best' was filmed on THURSDAY but actually went on skysports.com on FRIDAY, making Bruce look a mug, not his fault.

The shotgun 'Asa will hopefully come back' was probably in the immediate aftermath of him being gunned with the news, the MOTD thing was an honest Bruce, given time to appraise the situation.

I was delighted to here him say 'i dunno why i said that, i can't see a way back for him', cos for me, Gyan is not welcome back here under any circumstances, this is a whole different level to Bent going to Villa, and shows a lad that hasn't got the mentality for the battle.

He will never play for Manchester United, that's for ****ing sure, in fact, i doubt he'll be entertained by anyone from England or Spain of any great quality.

I sincerely hope, and think, not only did he **** SAFC and Bruce over, i think he has inadvertently ****ed his career.

 

Its a completely ridiculous situation. This is why we should stop signing brash cocky arrogant arseholes. It always ends in tears last few years I can think of diouf, chimbonda, Gyan and could probably even through Jones and Cisse into that mix. they think they are bigger than the club and when something goes slightly wrong the toys come out the pram and they want out in any circumstances they can manufacture. None of the 5 players mentioned went anywhere better than SAFC but the persona's they had, made them feel they had to get out.

I dont put Bent in this category as I dont think hes cocky or arrogant and in a way Villa are a better club than us. Hes just a greedy twat with no loyalty to the club that saved his career.

Give me the young fresh meat of Ji and Whickham and that other none arrogant centre forward we have whats his name again? Oh **** its Nicklas Bendtner this one could be very colourful indeed.

 

I rated cisse, I thought we wanted to stay but we didn't make the offer? I would definately have him now.

 

to all my friends there,i am sorry for the private mail i wrote to some of not 606ers,we were and we are still desperate but i think i made a wrong choice,what i want all to know is that SAFC keroche is a team of young players most of them are orphans either double orphan or single orphan,most of their parent died of HIV RELATED ILLNESS,i have tried to make them feel at home no matter how hard life is,we live in a pathetic slum for gods sake,its sad they got no one to help achieve their dream but i tried,i made a desperate call here and i got response playing kits THANKS to all those who supported us,i wrote private mail to some and i regret because some say the whole THING IS A CON!i myself have been to hell and back and i hoped not to see those kids go through what i have gone through,they are performing well and i am proud of them,we have many friends who have visited us and they lives abroad they can tell if the whole thing is a con.i will soon put all their address,phone numbers and etc just to justify the team is of good faith,we have eight SAFC kits three to go but am worried we might not get them for many dint believe us,the pic will be here as i have sent them to some one who can help us put them here.All i want to say is that SAFC IS NOT A CON we and mostly my would like to take this opportunity to say sorry if we offended anyone thanks in advance .paul

 

Scotlands a Mickey Mouse league, the one he's gone to isn't even a Spongebob Squarepants league.

All in all it's extremely disappointing to see a player with undoubted ability and drive (when playing for Ghana) leave the club - Gyan has stated that the clubs team spirit has gone - has he tried to help that?? Had he been interested against Newcastle then I think he'd find that the spirit would have been so different as he'd have had at least 1 or 2 goals and our season and fans would not be on the players backs (and also probably not the managers)

**** off Gyan - easy to slate a team after you've left for an extra £50k a week isn't it!