It’s not everyday that clubs let their players take part in trials around Europe, but on Monday, Mafra in Portugal allowed 23-year-old Mory Diaw to earn himself a transfer to Leeds United in the Championship.
Normally plying his trade in the Portuguese second division, the goalkeeper was given a chance to impress for Leeds United’s U23s against Crewe Alexandria’s in the Professional Development League 2.
Unfortunately for Diaw, things didn’t exactly go his way, as Crewe walked away with a 3-2 win, scoring two long shots and a ‘sensational’ goal, according to the LUFC Academy Twitter account.
The 23-year-old moved to Portugal in 2015, signing for Mafra when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired.
At the Ligue 1 champions since 2007, Diaw even spent the 2014-15 season as the French side’s fourth choice goalkeeper, behind the likes of Salvatore Sirigu, Nicolas Douchez and Mike Maignan.
When his contract ran out, the player tried out for Molde in Norway, but lost out to Ethan Horvath, Andreas Linde and Neydson for a spot in their team, eventually ending up at Mafra.
As for how good he is?
Philippe Goguet, editor at CulturePSG, who follows his progression with the club’s youth teams, told Tout Le Monde S’en Foot in 2016: “He could end up in Portugal’s top division or maybe in Belgium. He had shortcomings that stopped him from going to the top, but he’s young and can still develop and progress.”
Described as ‘always in a good mood, never worried, very nice and funny’, it appears Diaw could also be a good influence off the pitch for those around him.
Whether he did enough on Monday afternoon to pen a short-term contract with Leeds Untied at Elland Road remains to be seen, but there certainly wouldn’t be any harm in seeing how he does in a couple of other games.
At 6’5” and 90kg, he definitely has the physique for English football.
