NIALL Quinn cited the recent signing of Stephane Sessegnon as an example of the progress that Sunderland are making in the football world. The chairman revealed that not only had the Champions League player taken a cut in wages to move from Paris St Germain to the Stadium of Light but that he had snubbed late interest from both Everton and Aston Villa. He said: We were so pleased with that. ââ¬ÅThose are clubs that until very recently were competing for players that perhaps wouldnââ¬â¢t have been so interested in us. You might have expected Stephane and his advisers to at least want to talk to those clubs. ââ¬ÅBut Stephane was adamant that he wouldnââ¬â¢t. ââ¬ÅI think Steve Bruce had done such a good job in selling the club to Stephane that he was desperate to come here and be a part of it. ââ¬ÅWe had worked so hard on what was a very protracted transfer that he felt that we really wanted him and what was so refreshing was that money wasnââ¬â¢t an issue when it came to sitting down to talk about that.ââ¬Â The Benin international (left) was on a lucrative contract at the leading French club, where Champions League football is the norm rather than the exception. But Sessegnon was fired up by the challenge of Sunderland and the Premier League. Chief executive Steve Walton said: ââ¬ÅHe said he didnââ¬â¢t mind taking a pay cut because he said he would play so well here that we would fall over ourselves to offer him more money in the future. ââ¬ÅThat was music to our ears because not only did it show how much he had bought into the club but how determined and motivated he was to succeed once he got here.ââ¬Â I think we have a top class player at the club in this lad and next season once he has settled in properly got his fitness up to scratch and had a pre-season with the lads we will have some player on our hands. I like the second last paragraph, he certainly is one confident fella
“He said he didn’t mind taking a pay cut because he said he would play so well here that we would fall over ourselves to offer him more money in the future. You'll do for me son
It's great to see such an attitude-we must be doing something right.It is a pity that so many British players think that they are too important to take a pay cut to move to an ambitious club like us;if they are content to be bench warmers rather than regulars elsewhere I feel sorry for them.
Exactly the attitude that we want from our players. I hope we have to double his wage within 12 months.
Great guy, I hope he stays here for many years to come. I'm so pleased that our players actually want to play for us, most of them seem genuinely happy playing for this club. Long may it continue!
Now THAT'S the kind of player the club needs ...however, I think he was trouble at PSG - it's a great attitude he has, but what happens when we have to play him out of position for a few weeks due to injuries? (vis-a-vis JH, KR, PB? We don't need any of that!). Sessegnon adds skill and quality to our team, he has to play as part of the team and he certainly came here to resurrect his career as a top class player - there's been a few over the years where their head is bigger than the club that pays for their wages (speaking of which, hia Darren! How's your career in "relegation threatened" Villa? -unquote www bbc/sport/football this weekend). If he loves this club as many of our squad have, it will be returned many fold, but if he's looking for a stepping stone ... Nuff said - for now, I'm happy he's in a red and white shirt and I love the lad for what he brings to the team.
Not sure Darren is that bothered about his career really...more about pound notes for him I think !!! Villa 3 points behind Newcastle n 5 behind Sunderland. Villa 3 points off bottom 3 as well. Conclusive ?
