Controvertial striker El Hadji Diouf has finally managed to find a club after being let go by Blackburn in the summer – though it’s not quite as big a club as he might have hoped.
Having played in the Premier League for Blackburn and Liverpool, and finished off last season at Scottish Premier League Champions Rangers, he might have hoped that his perofrmances (and goals) would have led to big clubs across Europe vying for his signature.
Sadly, whilst many clubs would love to have his attacking threat and ability ON the pitch, they all recognise the difficulties they would have with him OFF it!
Ever since he first broke onto the scene in dramatic fashion with the Senegal team that beat France in World Cup Japan 2002, Diouf has been connected to all sorts of fall-outs – with managers, team-mates, referees and even fans. Who can forget him spitting at fans (it was broadcast repeatedly on TV), or his altercations with Neil Lennon at Celtic last year?
But one manager IS willing to take a gamble – Doncaster Rover’s Dean Saunders. He has the uneviable task of trying to control Diouf now that the Senegalese star has signed a three-month contract with the East Yorkshire club.
Saunders defended Diouf. “I’m really pleased to have got him. He is a top player and he has brought into what I am trying to do here.
“He’s got a reputation, you can’t deny that but I’ve got to manage him, that’s my job. No one is bigger than the club. I think he feels hard done by. He is a Premier League player and he is coming here to rebuild himself.”