Mamadou Sangare could have been playing Champions League football this week. The midfielder starred for RC Lens last season, playing a key role as they finished as Ligue 1 runners-up and French Cup champions, and major European clubs were eyeing his signature over the summer.
Yet he turned those bigger clubs down for a Brentford team without European football this season. "Yeah it's true," he tells Sky Sports from Brentford's training ground about that interest. "But I'm not going to give any names, out of respect. There were a lot of clubs. For me, the most important thing was to know where I could progress. And Brentford was the best place for my development."
"A coach who really wanted me was something that was important to me. That's why I chose Brentford." Sangare had earned a big move, having been named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year at the age of 24, pipping Paris Saint-Germain duo Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz to a midfield spot. Asked whether it was hard to say no, he replied: "No, it wasn't difficult. Just because a big club comes calling, it doesn't mean you have to say yes to it."
His Premier League debut quickly made him a star for the future. He recorded two assists as the Bees hammered Tottenham on the opening weekend, and Jamie Redknapp said he "can play for a top four club." Brentford's secret appears to lie in its preparation, with a very detailed presentation to incoming players. Bryan Mbeumo, for example, was watched 28 times for Ligue 2 side Troyes before the club approached him in 2019, and was later sold to Manchester United.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing