sunderland Archives - TalkAfrique

September 20, 2011

Ghana Asamoah Gyan Defends Move from Sunderland to Al Ain

CNN) — On loan Al Ain striker Asamoah Gyan has dismissed claims that his recent move from Sunderland to the United Arab Emirates was motivated by money. Talking to CNN’s Pedro Pinto, the Ghanaian also claimed there was no bad blood between him and Sunderland coach Steve Bruce after his last minute move to the Middle East.

“I’m still a player of Sunderland. I didn’t have any confrontation with anyone. We are still alright. I was cool with the manager,” he told CNN.

“People say I moved because of money….You need to be happy — although I’m not saying I wasn’t happy at Sunderland or I wasn’t happy in the [English] Premier League.

“I had to decide with my family and everything and they were alright with my decision so I had to just move…it helped myself and Sunderland as well.” Gyan’s move from Sunderland in the English Premier League to Al Ain, a club that hails from a city built around an oasis deep in the desert, was arguably the most controversial of the recent transfer window.

The Ghanaian scored ten goals in his 34 appearances for Sunderland and appeared to have adjusted well to the fast-paced English game.

But instead of building on his promising start Gyan opted to move to the Middle East instead.

“In life you have to experience things. I think moving here I don’t regret at all because Al Ain is a great club and I’m ready to give everything,” he explained.

“It’s another step in my life. Although I’m still a player of Sunderland. I came on loan so I’ll see how my future lies as Al Ain is an important club in Asia. I’m really, really happy to be here.”

Gyan will be joined by a host of stars in this year’s UAE Pro League. Maradona will be in charge of Dubai club Al Wasl, France international David Trezeguet has joined Abu Dhabi club Bani Yas whilst former Inter Milan midfielder Luis Jimenez will be playing at Al Ahli.

Last year’s champions, Al Jazira of Abu Dhabi, are bankrolled by Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan

Whilst there are fabulous riches to be found in the UAE Pro League, it isn’t without its controversies. Attendances have been dire since the league went professional in 2008. The situation got so bad that the UAE FA disbanded the league and took it under their control last June.

Yet for Gyan the draw of Asian Champions League football was enough to convince him that the standard this season will be high.

“The English Premiership is one of the best in the world. I do respect that. I enjoyed myself really last season,” he said.

“Moving to the Asian league is another step in my life. Who knows maybe I can bring some exposure in the Asian league. I’ve got more fans in Africa and more fans in Europe also.

“I think the Asian league is also improving. Not just the big players going to the Asian league. It’s got a lot of great players…and they are enjoying their football here.”

September 10, 2011September 10, 2011

Asamoah Gyan leaves Sunderland for UAE side Al-Ain

yan made 37 appearances for Sunderland, scoring 11 goals

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has signed for United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain on loan.

The Ghanaian joined Sunderland from French club Rennes in August 2010 for £13m.

But on Friday, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed “parasites” turned Gyan’s head after his goal in the 1-1 draw with England at Wembley in March.

And on Saturday it was announced that the striker, 25, was on his way to the UAE.

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.”

Throughout the transfer window, Gyan was linked with a move to a big European club.

On Friday Bruce blamed agents for turning Gyan’s head.

“Since that game at Wembley, all the parasites, as I call them, hover around,” said Bruce.

“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.

“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.

“He was going from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich to Valencia to Atletico Madrid.”

Bruce added on Friday that he had challenged the striker to rediscover his form.

“I had a conversation with him two days ago to say: ‘Look, the window as now closed, Asa,” Bruce said. “Right, we need to see you back playing again and back the way you know you can play’.”

Gyan – who has yet to score this season – was due to miss Saturday’s Premier League match with Chelsea because of a hamstring problem picked up on international duty with Ghana

June 21, 2011

Ghana Striker Asamoah Gyan Says he is Staying at Sunderland

Gyan made 33 appearances for Sunderland last season

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has rejected reports linking him with a move away from Wearside, saying he is “fully committed” to the club.

“I am not leaving Sunderland and I am not interested in these rumours in the newspapers and the internet,” Gyan told African website MTNFootball.com.

The Ghanaian scored 11 goals in his debut season on Wearside last term.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn recently described reports suggesting Gyan was for sale as “embarrassing”.

“I am fully committed to Sunderland because I love the institution and traditions of this club,” Gyan added.

“I am staying at Sunderland next season and the foreseeable future as I am looking forward to meeting my team-mates and Sunderland fans when we return next month.”

Gyan is Sunderland’s record signing, having joined from French club Rennes for a fee in excess of £13m in August 2010.

The 25-year-old has endeared himself to Black Cats supporters with his enthusiastic style and some important goals, including an injury-time equaliser in the Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle in January 2011.

June 10, 2011

I Will not Sacrifice Gyan for Crouch, Sunderland’s Bruce

SUNDERLAND’S ambitious bid to sign Peter Crouch has hit a major stumbling block, with Harry Redknapp wanting Asamoah Gyan in return.

The Tottenham manager has been tracking 25-year-old Gyan for months and with a new striker his priority, the Ghana international is on his hit-list.

Black Cats boss Steve Bruce would love to take Crouch to the Stadium of Light, having failed to persuade him to move north two years ago.

However, he does not want to sacrifice Gyan to get him.

The charismatic African scored 10 goals in 31 games for Sunderland last term following an eye-catching World Cup and his club record £13m move from Rennes.

When Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck were both sidelined, Gyan was the Black Cats’ only fit striker following Darren Bent’s January departure – until injury cut short his own campaign.

Bruce announced last month he is in the market for three forwards and even if he signs Liverpool’s David Ngog, he would still be short up front.

It would be a huge gamble to sell Gyan, even if it meant landing Crouch. And publicly at least, Redknapp insists he doesn’t want to lose the beanpole striker.

The White Hart Lane boss said: “Crouchy is a good player. I like him. He is a great lad and I love him as a fella. He is not one I’m looking to shift.

“We are looking to bring a striker in but he is not one of those that we are looking to sell, if we can help it.”

Sunderland are still negotiating a fee with Liverpool for Ngog, whose move is not linked to Jordan Henderson’s switch in the opposite direction.

Liverpool initially slapped a £7m price tag on the 22-year-old Frenchman, but it is thought he will eventually leave for less than half that.

The Black Cats are also waiting to hear back from Manchester United after tabling a £12m bid for John O’Shea, Wes Brown and Darron Gibson.

While Gibson is keen to move, O’Shea and Brown are waiting to see if there is interest from any other clubs.

Sunderland have also completed a permanent deal for Ahmed Elmohamady.

The winger spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light from Egyptian club ENPPI, making 38 appearances.

Sunderland activated a clause in the deal to buy him outright. Bruce said: “Ahmed has done well in his first season with the club and has shown plenty of potential. I think there is much more to come from him.”

January 26, 2011January 26, 2011

Muntari in Sunderland Talk

Ghana Muntari

Sunderland have been granted permission to discuss a deal to sign Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari.

If terms are agreed, the 26-year-old is expected to join the Black Cats on loan until the end of the season.

Muntari played in the Premier League while at Portsmouth during the 2007-08 campaign before leaving for Inter.

The Ghana international has struggled to secure first-team football at the San Siro and handed in a transfer request earlier this month.

Muntari has helped the club to two successive Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League crown.
Myrtle Pudding

But he was out of favour under Rafael Benitez at the start of the season and has failed to convince new manager Leonardo of his worth, making only one Serie A start this term.

If he does move to the Stadium of Light, he will be joining international team-mates Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah.

January 23, 2011

Muntari to Join Gyan at Sunderland

Sulley Muntari is on the verge of joining the English Premiership League side Sunderland early this week, according to his agent.

Muntari has been a bench warmer at Inter Milan where he has been a surplus to the teams requirements and is keen for a return to the Premier League, having spent a season at Portsmouth in the 2007/8 campaign.

There are also other speculation that Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton are also in the race to snatch the 26-year-old.

Muntaris’ agent, Fabien Piveteau, says that is incorrect.

“That is not true, indeed if everything is sorted out with Sunderland he will be going there. We hope to have everything sorted shortly, maybe by Tuesday,” he told Sky Sports.

Despite previously stating that he would only play for a London-based club, Muntari now seems set on a loan move to the north east.

Piveteau added: “He knows Sunderland is a good club, possibly not the biggest but he wants to be playing football.

Asamoah Gyan is reportedly in communication with Muntari trying to woo the controversial midfield to join him at Sunderland.

November 9, 2010January 24, 2011

Thank you, Sir

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has thanked manager Steve Bruce for handing him the opportunity to impress in the 2-0 win against Stoke City on Saturday.

Gyan’s two-goal haul earned a vital three points for the Black Cats, following the 5-1 derby defeat by Newcastle United the previous weekend.

“I waited patiently, and he gave me my chance, and I feel I proved myself,” Gyan told BBC Newcastle.

“We came back from a big defeat and we’ve put smiles on everybody’s face.”

Gyan’s contribution was made all the more important given the absence of the club’s top scorer, Darren Bent, with a hamstring injury.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has started with Bent and Gyan in a front two just once since the latter joined the club from French club Rennes in August, in a 2-1 Carling Cup defeat by West Ham United.

With Bent now ruled out for three weeks, Gyan is set for an extended run in the side.

However, the Ghanaian is disappointed he will not be able to forge a partnership with the England international.

“I was a bit disappointed, Darren has done so well for the club, and I was given a chance to play with him, but he had a few problems [with the hamstring injury],” Gyan continued

The Ghana international has made nine appearances since arriving on Wearside, scoring four goals.

(BBC Sports)