Angry Djibril Cissé hits out at Sunderland

Jun 13 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

DJIBRIL Cissé has lashed out at Sunderland because of their decision not to sign him permanently from Olympique Marseille after last season’s loan deal.

Cissé began life with the Black Cats in excellent fashion, but lost his way when Roy Keane left and appeared to find it difficult to play in a strike partnership with Kenwyne Jones.

With rumours of dressing room rifts also involving the colourful France international, Sunderland neglected to take up the option of a permanent move and Cissé was sent back to Marseille.

The former Liverpool striker is clearly bitter about the way he was treated and suggested he had been lied to by the Sunderland board who had intimated he would be given a contract if the club avoided relegation.

He said: “I went into the final game thinking that I was going to be taken on. Because I had been told, when we are safe, we talk contracts. It’s either a lie or a misunderstanding on my side, but I think I understand English well enough to understand what that sentence means.

“I am angry because I tried to talk to them in January about my future and the manager [Ricky Sbragia] said: ‘Djib, you have to stop talking’. So I stopped talking. The chairman

(Niall Quinn) said I had to wait until we are safe, so I wait until the last day to hear: ‘Thank you, we are not going to take up the option.’ Luckily, I have other opportunities, otherwise I would be stuck.”

Although Cissé was popular with fans, few will be too sorry to see him leave as he had lost his way under Sbragia and it is believed he did not enjoy working for the Scot.

However, Cissé is still adamant he wanted to sign for Sunderland and is not impressed with their excuses regarding the change in the asking price due to the falling pound.

As a result, the 28-year-old has promised to make them pay for their decision if he returns to England with another Premier League club this summer.

He said: “They had to pay 9million euros to Marseille, which was £7m at the time and it is now about £8m, but I still don’t think that is a lot of money for a striker who is going to score 15 goals.

“I can’t take this excuse, that’s why I am annoyed. If you want to stay in the Premier League and try to be regulars in the Premier League, you’re going to have to pay more than £10m for strikers.

“I am just waiting to see who they buy. Are they going to find a £6m striker or are they going to buy a £12-£15m striker?

“If I had the chance to come back to another English club, I’d have to face Sunderland and it would be up to me to make them regret their decision.

“Sometimes you have to be strong and show the people that they made a big mistake. Obviously, what I did this season wasn’t good enough for Ricky and Niall so we will see next season.”

EVERTON have announced they have released Portuguese left-back Nuno Valente and Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde.

Portugal international Valente, who won the Champions League with Porto in 2004, moved to Goodison Park in 2005.

The 34-year-old found himself behind Leighton Baines in the pecking order last term, while England international Joleon Lescott has also been preferred on the left of the defence.

Van der Meyde joined from Inter Milan four years ago, but struggled badly with injuries and disciplinary and personal problems.

Everton have also released youngsters John Irving, John Paul Kissock, Scott Spencer, Eunan O’Kane and Cory Sinnott, while Segundo Castillo has returned to Red Star Belgrade after his loan spell came to an end.