Jan 30 2012 By Paul Warburton SAMBA Diakité admits he might have ended up in jail or working as a plumber rather than signing for QPR on a season-long loan. The 23-year-old Parisian, currently playing for Mali in the African Cup of Nations, reckons it was a ‘dream’ to come to a Premier League club, but also revealed a past when he might have quit football at 16. The defensive midfielder comes from the tough, troubled housing estates of Montfermeil in the Paris suburbs, and was on the verge of taking up a plumbing apprenticeship when he gave football a final go. He said: “I was not the most talented, but I have mental strength and I also had a sensible upbringing and a bit of a warrior temperament that allowed me to say ‘no’ when it mattered. “It’s that strength that kept me away from any delinquency and other bad things.” Three clubs offered him a pro contract before he signed for Ligue 1 Valencienne and then broke his ankle on the second day of training. He gave it a second go at a tiny club called Noisy le sec from France’s lower leagues and was then spotted by Nancy for whom he has made 15 first-team appearances this season. He will make a permanent switch in the summer if he impresses boss Mark Hughes. The manager added: “There has been a lot of interest in him from top clubs in France so we have done really well to get him. “He is a good age, has got strength, power, can carry the ball and can score goals from midfield on occasions. “He will give us more physical presence and athleticism in the middle of the park so he is going to be a good addition.” http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/qpr-ealing/2012/01/30/exclusive-qpr-sign-a-plumber-82029-30230209/? Sounds to me like someone who's very grateful to just play football, which unfortunately can't be said of the majority of footballers these days.
