Mixed Emotions For Diao On Joining Liverpool
By David Anderson
August 6 2002
New Liverpool signing Salif Diao has reveiled that he is sad to leave his old club Sedan. He put pen to paper on a five-year contract some six weeks ago for a reported fee £4.7million.
New Liverpool signing Salif Diao has reveiled that he is sad to leave his old club Sedan. He put pen to paper on a five-year contract some six weeks ago for a reported fee £4.7million.
He was supposed to be joining in December but with Steven Gerrards persistant groing injury he has answered Liverpools call to come to merseyside months earlier but has mixed emotions about it.
"I am a little bit sad to leave the club that fast, almost like a thief," said Diao, who helped Senegal reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
"There is really something very strong at Sedan between the players and the supporters.
"I have hardly had time to thank my team-mates and the fans, but I hope to go back (for a visit) as soon as possible to do it."
Despite his sadness at leaving Sedan, Diao cannot wait to pull on a Liverpool shirt.
"Real football is like the style played at Liverpool," he said.
"It is a pure delight for me when I watch the Premiership, it simply fascinates me.
"I am really eager to start playing. To play in such a high-calibre competition is one of the goals of my career.
"I will also play against former Monaco team-mates such as (Thierry) Henry and (Fabien) Barthez."
Diao joined the then newly-promoted Sedan in 2000 after four years with Monaco.
"Sedan was like a springboard for my career," he said.
"When they recruited me, I had just had a bad season with Monaco due to a persistent groin injury. I had played only one match and I was seriously thinking about hanging up my boots for good.
"The Sedannais directors were wise enough to let me re-find my level at my own pace.
"At Monaco the players were individualists, whereas in Sedan I understood what the word solidarity means.
"There is nothing better than human comfort and a nice environment to get back on track."