Sartori to bring South Americans to Academy

Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald has confirmed that the club are ready to exploit a ‘gap in the market’ and bring some South American players in to their academy set-up.

Uruguayan co-owner Juan Sartori has been hands-on since taking a 20 per cent stake in the club.

And the input of Sartori, who has previously been involved with French giants Monaco, is starting to reap its rewards.

Perhaps where his influence is being felt most is in the club’s highlyregarded academy, with the plan from the offset being that the 37-year-old would help the club in securing talented youngsters from his home continent.

Donald has now revealed that the wheels are firmly in motion in that respect, with several South American players set to make the move to Wearside as the club look to explore untapped markets.

“He’s had a big input.” admitted the Sunderland chairman.

“He’s been talking to Paul Reid, primarily about getting some South American talent into the academy because we see a gap in the market there.

“We’re well on the way with that process. He will feed in a lot of South American players that we can take a look at.

“Some will work, some won’t, but if the ones that work, work then it will be a great financial arrangement for us. In the short-term on the footballing side, it helps.”

Sartori has really taken Sunderland to heart, and while Donald is naturally keen to extract his business expertise, he feels that the businessman’s enthusiasm is pivotal and can prove to be infectious.

“He’s there commercially and financially as well, if we need him and he’s right at the forefront of that,” he added in a podcast with Roker Rapport.

“On the footballing side, he’s unbelievably excited.

“You want that level of enthusiasm and I wasn’t 100per cent sure, with him being South American, used to warmer climates and involved in a sexy football club at Monaco.

“Sunderland, to an Englishman, is fantastic but what would Juan make of it?

“He’s come up and is absolutely loving it all.”