Alfie wants to stay

SUNDERLAND will hold discussions over Alfred N’Diaye’s future next week, with the midfielder reluctant to return to Real Betis.


N’Diaye looked to be heading towards the Sunderland exit door after reports emerged in Spain that the Black Cats were in advanced talks with Betis over the sale of the Senegal international.

Betis were thought to be close to agreeing a fee of around £1.5million – plus add-ons – for N’Diaye, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the club, who finished bottom of Spain’s Primera Division.

But the 24-year-old’s agent and brother, Bakary N’Diaye, insists he is yet to hear from either party over a potential sale and is due to hold a meeting with Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne and sporting director Lee Congerton next week.

Betis’s hopes of agreeing a contract with N’Diaye may be scuppered though, with the powerful midfielder preferring to prove himself in the Premier League than drop down to the Spanish Segunda Division.

“I have read all the speculation, but I have not actually heard anything and, as far as I am concerned, he is staying at Sunderland,” Bakary N’Diaye told the Echo.

“I will meet with the club next week, with Margaret Byrne and Lee Congerton, to have a discussion.

“At the moment, he is with the team and is working hard in pre-season.

“Real Betis really loved him and he had a great relationship with the coach.

“He was happy over there with the city and the club, but now he is back with Sunderland.

“Betis want him and I know they keep talking with Sunderland about him.

“But he does not want to play in the Spanish Second Division.

“He would prefer to play in the Premier League with Sunderland.

“That is his main goal and he is focusing on that every day.”

N’Diaye was a surprise departure last summer after just six months on Wearside, when former head coach Paolo Di Canio sanctioned his loan move to Turkish side Eskisehirspor.

Gus Poyet then had the option of recalling N’Diaye in the January transfer window, but tellingly gave the go-ahead to a subsequent loan move to Betis, as he was not thought to be part of the Uruguayan’s long-term plans.

But, after almost a fortnight of pre-season training back at the Academy of Light, N’Diaye – a £3.8million signing 18 months ago – is determined to make the most of his second opportunity at the Stadium of Light.

“Sunderland are interested in Alfred,” added Bakary N’Diaye.

“He was given a programme to follow during the summer which he did and the feedback from the club has been good.

“He loves the club and wants to do his best to be in the team.”

From what little we saw of him i think he has the makings of a powerhouse box to box midfielder, happy if he stays on board me like

 

Mmm

 

Yes?

 

On the fence.

Not against him being given a chance.

 

He is a body. We cant afford to lose any atm. If we bring peopel in then its ok to let him go. He should at least be given a chance.

 

I predict both the club will be looking to off load him and he'll be looking for a move by January.

 

I reckon he should go - I haven't forgiven him for ****ing up my dreamteam up last season

 

In all honest, why can't he replace colback? Make him run box to box and close down players, he has more height which is useful for set peices which we are slowly improving on. His passing needs work granted, but half a team couldn't pass before poyet arrived.

 

If Gus fancies him surely this would have been sorted by now.

 

People were annoyed that he went off as he wanted guaranteed first team football. Not the worst thing a footballer can want. We are short on numbers and until that changes, give him a chance. Unless he is clearly not up to it.

 

What happened to that Cabral fella you signed, I thought he was supposed to be decent? I'm sure he got rave reviews playing against us a couple of years ago in the Champions/Europa League.

Seems odd that he just vanished, for Di Canio and Poyet to want nothing to do with him, it must have been a directive from the top not to play him, maybe he tried to finger Ellis Short's Mrs at a player and staff do!

 

Peobably is sorted mate - we know nothing, this agent ios simply doing what agents do and looking to make his player more money and that's that.

My biggest issue with N'Diaye was that Di Canio told him he wasn't part of his plans but he may need him as backup - if my boss told me that I'd want to work to ensure I was part of his plans. He took the easy option. If he will work hard and prove his worth then keep him - I saw enough of him to think there's a player in there somewhere

 

Football isn't your normal job though. You have about 12 years if you're lucky. Wanting to actually play is no bad thing. Easy option or not, it was the right decision for the individual and may benefit us in the loing term,

 

No offence mate but how can Alfie (a box box physical ****house) replace Colback (a pretty static ball player)? They're completely different so could never replace.


I remember Alfie, at the time I could see passing was his weak point. I think he'll drown in a Poyet system. Great player for another system but not ours.

 

Cabral is a lazy waste of space. Last seen in a Sunderland shirt being hauled of in the first half of a development game for not making any effort. Was loaned out to Torino who didn't play him and don't want him back. He's back with us. Could be decent if he sorts his attitude and fitness out.

 

Is it that simple though? Surely there's more to it than effort? Seems to me like he's made a right royal **** up, wonder if he done something stupid that's not been reported like was found with drugs or a gun or something, can't just be effort surely.

 

**** knows mate, All I know is PDC, Kevin Ball, Gus Poyet and Giampiero Ventura at Torini have all taken a look at him and none of them liked what they saw. I think Attitude problems partners a lack of effort on this one. Lets face it, the Swizz league ain't like the Premier League or Serie A is it? I just don't think the man has the motivation to get fit and stay fit in these top leagues, but that of course is a guess.

 

Yeah I see your point but surely wanting to work to play is better than going to a backwater second rate club in a league run by 2 or 3. I wanted to hear him say to di Canio "I want to play. I'll work so hard that you have no choice but to play me" rather than say "I'm going somewhere where they'll play me regularly" Easy option. An "Easy option" player isn't really someone I want here

 

That's new information for me fella, I read he wanted a starting place and was told nobody is guaranteed a starting place. He was told he was wanted but if he wasn't happy a loan could be arranged, He chose the loan. Infact, PDC's early team selections, bouncing between Cabral, Colback, Seb and Ki, shows PDC wasn't settled on his midfield two.

 

Genoa mate, Genoa...