On July 16th, we covered claims from France that Sunderland had submitted their first offer for SM Caen striker Alexandre Mendy.
SM Caen had left him out of a squad travelling for pre-season training, and that was partly due to Al-Riyad in Saudi Arabia making an approach for him.
Sunderland moved in and that gave Mendy something to think about. And didn’t take him long to do so!
FootMercato now report he’s chosen the Championship club, and they even have quotes from him detailing the reasoning.
One of the reasons is having watched all the Sunderland ‘Til I Die programmes, and presumably finding a soft spot in his heart for the Black Cats as he saw them go through a period of chaos.
FootMercato quote him as saying: “When Sunderland arrived, there was no more debate. I could have gone into exile in Saudi Arabia with the idea of a golden retirement but I still have things to do in football and when Yace (his advisor Yacine Ayad) called me to tell me about Sunderland, it was as if I had blinkers on.
“It’s a sporting choice and I’m really looking forward to starting this new adventure. I know the club well, he told me about the president Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, his values and his convictions which are those that I share. There’s also the coach Régis Le Bris, a very strong tactical coach, who can help me move up a level. He exudes serenity and natural strength.
“I also watched the three seasons of the documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die. I know that it’s a club that can bring me a lot. I’m really looking forward to my medical to go to England with my wife and children and to discover this stadium, these fans and this magnificent atmosphere.”
The 30-year-old, who quite clearly has the potential to become a cult hero based on those comments alone, can’t move immediately.
He has to wait for Sunderland and SM Caen to agree a transfer fee, as his contract with the French club runs until June 2026.
There’s no indication from FootMercato that will be a problem, though.
