Former Senegalese defender Ibrahima Sonko, who also played for Reading, claims he bought the air fares for the new Everton signing Oumar Niasse to come to Turkey before making his break through.
Sonko claimed he made an agreement with his manager at Turkish Super Lig side, Akhisar Belediyespor, for Niasse to come to the club on trials after offering to pay for the his transport expenses to Turkey with the view if the club decided to sign him permanetly they can refund him the ticket money, to which the manager agreed and within couple of days Oumar was offered his first contract.
“I first saw Oumar play with under 23s, that was with Olympic team before they came to London, he was so fast,” Sonko told BBC Sports World. “He was just up and down the pitch even though he was playing upfront,” he added. “I spoke to the boy, I told him listen, am going to take you to Turkey with me. “I went back to Turkey, had a word with my manger. “He said to me it’s your call, we don’t know the boy because you haven’t got any videos. “I said listen, am sure of this boy that I will pay for everything and if you sign him, all I want is pay me back my ticket. “He said ok, it was a good deal for him. “I spoke to Oumar, when he gave me the green light, I bought the ticket. “He came and after a couple of days they gave him his first contract.
Niasse, 25, has completed his move to Premier League side, Everton before yesterday’s transfers deadline from Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, in a four-and-a-half-year deal worth £13.5m, which followed the Senegalese forward’s recent goal scoring exploits for the Moscow side, where he scored 13 goals in 23 appearances this season.
when as asked about his compatriot’s move to the Premier League Sonko said he was not surprised “I know that England was his dream, since I met him he kept telling me he would love to play in England, said the former Reading defender, adding :”He is a kind of player who works his socks off on the pitch and always playing out for the team. “He is not an individual player, he does not only think about himself.
Everton’s manager Roberto Martinez also shared his delighted about his team’s latest Addison, saying: “We’re delighted as Oumar is a player we’ve been following for a long time,”Toffees boss Roberto Martinez said.”He brings a real hunger and desire to be successful into what is already a strong squad,” added the Spanish manager.
