RB Leipzig defender Abdou Diallo has opened up about his decision to sign for the Bundesliga club this summer after reportedly being rejected by Tottenham when he was on PSG’s books.
In an interview with Carre, the Senegal international revealed that signing for Leipzig felt like a step in the right direction, with Diallo stating that his time had come to an end in Paris after spending the majority of his career in the French capital sat on the bench.
PSG were eager to offload Diallo all summer, with the Ligue 1 champions slapping a reported £30m price tag and offering the centre-back out to the likes of Tottenham and reportedly Aston Villa. However, it was Leipzig who eventually stepped forward to sign the defender in the final days of the transfer window.
Whilst Diallo’s time in Leipzig hasn’t got off to the most productive of starts, the Senegal star is seemingly happy with his choice to sign for the Bundesliga giants, with Tottenham missing out on the chance to bring the former PSG star to north London this summer.
The defender said about leaving Paris: “I felt like I was reaching the end of something and I wasn’t going to stay at the club to be of no use. And the transfer window, as long as the season hasn’t started, is the time when you have to think about your own interests. I wanted an important role in a project, to matter and to bring something to the table.”
Diallo added about signing for Leipzig: “For me, Leipzig ticked all of the boxes: a good club with ambitions, with a big and stable project. They’re in the Champions League and competing at the top of the Bundesliga. I knew some players there already and I know the league, and I wanted to take a risk.”
Tottenham could regret allowing Leipzig to sign Diallo
Tottenham made their choice to reject Diallo this summer and instead sign Clement Lenglet from FC Barcelona on loan, and this decision could be one that Antonio Conte regrets should the Leipzig star begin to impress for his new club this season.
Indeed, whilst results have not been good for Leipzig this season, Diallo’s role as a starting defender could lead to better performances for the east German side. And for Tottenham, the centre-back has the potential to make Tottenham and Conte look silly if he soon starts impressing in the Bundesliga.
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