Jose Enrique rules out signing for Sunderland

Dec 1 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

JOSE Enrique insists he has no interest in a Tyne-Wear switch to Sunderland – or leaving Newcastle United for any other Premier League club.

Enrique was the subject of fresh speculation over the weekend linking him with the Black Cats, who are looking to sign a left-back in the January transfer window.

The Spanish defender has reaffirmed his commitment to United’s promotion campaign, however, insisting that a New Year move to the Stadium of Light holds absolutely no interest for him.

The feeling over the summer was that Enrique, a former Spain Under-21 international, would be one of the first players to leave United following relegation but he has delivered the perfect response by knuckling down and delivered a string of impressively composed displays.

The 23-year-old says he is settled in the city and is adamant that his focus is solely trained on getting the club into the top flight at the first time of asking.

“I don’t care about Sunderland. Even if the newspapers said Chelsea, I wouldn’t care. I worry for my team – I love the city, I love the club and I don’t care about signing for another team.

“I don’t read the papers because I don’t understand English that well! Some players were joking with me about what it said. I want to go back to the Premier League, that is true, but I want to go back to the Premier League with Newcastle. This is a big, big, big club in England and it is important that it gets back into the Premier League.”

United supporters may have to get used to speculation linking their big hitters with moves elsewhere after an impressive start to life in the Championship.

Indeed Enrique is not the only player attracting covetous glances from top-flight clubs, with Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith both wanted men after enjoying an upturn in form since relegation to the second tier.