Ndong: I lacked professionalism at Sunderland

Didier Ndong has opened up on his time at Sunderland and has made some surprising revelations.

The midfielder has agreed a deal to join Ligue 1 basement side Guingamp alongside Papy Djilobodji.

The 24-year-old saw his contract terminated on Wearside in October, with an agreement in place that his new employers will pay a fee in the region of £3.5million to Sunderland.

In a set of confessions which are likely to shock Sunderland fans, the Gabon international revealed that he was ‘forced’ to leave Lorient for Sunderland in 2016 as his former club needed the money, while he also admits that he ‘lacked professionalism’ at Sunderland.

“I spent 18 months in Lorient, I came from Tunisia and I think that my adaptation to France was not over when I left,” he admitted. “My transfer to Sunderland was not really my will. Loïc Féry [the president at Lorient], who is a president who also loved me, was forced to sell me because Lorient needed money at that time. “My first season went well in England. In terms of the game, there was no problem. But there was a lack of language and the absence of my family, all that hurt me.

“I also did not understand the good behaviour to have in Europe. I had some delays, I lacked professionalism. There are many things that I did not master.

“At one point in the season, the club was not doing well - it went down two times in a row - and it started chattering around me.

“I missed something. I was not undisciplined but there are too many things that I did not master. There was also poor communication. It cost me dear.”

“I trained in London, also in my academy in Libreville in Gabon to stay on course,” he told French outlet Le Telegramme.

“I also did little bits in Paris where I found a physical trainer. I think I did not lose everything.

“Now, I know that a career can switch at any time.”