The midfielder never set the world alight in his three years at St Mary's, but he was a dependable squad player in that time, who was never appreciated for the hard work he put in.

Southampton FC have announced that Ibrahima Diallo has left the club for Al-Duhail SC, subject to international clearance.

He has joined the Quatari club for an undisclosed fee after three seasons at St Mary's, during that time he started 31 Premier League games plus 32 as a sub, scoring just the once.

As a player he was a spoiling defensive midfield, his job was to break up the game and make sure the opposition couldn't play, he was never a master passer of the ball, but he could win it and knock it short, but for some supporters that wasn't good enough.

But you could never accuse him of not trying and he had a knack of playing in games where we got a result, last season he started in two of our 6 wins and a draw and came on as a sub in two of our away wins plus the draw at Arsenal.

I would hope that Saints supporters would wish him well and not pepper message boards with insults, football is a squad game and Diallo was a good squad player who just got on with things.

Good luck to him at Al-Duhail and wherever he goes in football and indeed life.

Photo: Action Images

DPeps added 22:36 - Jul 19 In the Gaston Ramirez group of showing real quality at times, but not cut out for the PL. Always seemed to put in a shift. Good luck to him
3

SanMarco added 23:45 - Jul 19 I wish him luck. As a squad player he was fine but he just didn't have the quality to be a regular starter.
2

Boris1977 added 00:30 - Jul 20 Always a player that made me nervous but played the role he was asked to. Good luck young man.
1

Peterx added 06:56 - Jul 20 RH thought we could let Romeu go as we had Diallo as back up when Lavia got injured...let's just say it didn't end well.
1

Block8 added 09:49 - Jul 20 He just didn't have quite enough for the PL but he wasn't alone in that department & our awful tactics did him no favours. I thought a season or two in the Championship may have aided his development but we'll never know now. Good luck to him! COYR
0

SaintPaulVW added 11:12 - Jul 20 Despite some promising signs, he just never quite reached the level required to become more than just an 'option'. To my eyes, he never adapted to the speed of thought needed in the PL. Whether this was down to him or the coaching he received here - we will never know. Seemed an honest likeable player and I wish him all the best at his next club.
1

EvertonSaint added 11:20 - Jul 20 Moi gone, Theo gone, Orsic gone, Lyanco going ( who I think could have been a good defensive midfielder), Diallo gone. All I want for Christmas is for McCarthy, Bree, Djnepo and Adams to go then the real rebuild can start.
1

Blogs 32 bloggers

Southampton Polls