Senegalese midfielder Alfred N’Diaye signed for Sunderland in January 2013 from Bursaspor in a €5m deal. The 26-year-old stayed at the club for just six months before being sent out on loan to Turkish club Eskişehirspor.
N’Diaye featured regularly under Di Canio, but was left out of the squad in the last two games of the season before being shipped out of the club. The former Sunderland player has recently signed for Villarreal, and has been speaking to French newspaper L’Equipe about his relationship with Paolo Di Canio.
He said: “It went very well until the arrival of a new coach Paolo Di Canio. We did not argue, but it was not right.
“Knowing me and seeing his character, it was better that I leave. Yet, I have played all the matches.”
Paolo Di Canio came under a lot of criticism at Sunderland for his relationship with players, and it’s no shock to hear N’Diaye’s comments.