N’koyi relieved to be at Tannadice after feeling like a prisoner in Thailand

New Dundee United signing Patrick N’koyi feared for his future career after feeling like he had been kidnapped by a club in Thailand .

The 27-year-old left Dutch First Division outfit MVV Maastricht at the end of last season and was tempted by an offer from Asia. Flying out for what he thought was a factfinding mission to Thai topflight side Sukhotai, the striker found himself paraded as if he had signed.

The club tried to make him play in a game and, when he was due to fly home, he found there was no flight booked.

The player, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reckons it was all a ploy to force him into signing a contract. It was even reported in the Netherlands that he had penned a deal, and he was worried the “fake news” would put off prospective clubs closer to home.

Now he is happy to have sealed his immediate future in a one-year deal at Tannadice.

He said: “I did go to Thailand one week after we stopped our league. Nothing was organised for me and I never signed for them. There was a misunderstanding between the club and the manager (agent) who brought me there, who said that I was coming to sign – I was going just to have a look.

“They even had a press conference where they wanted me to sign. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying as their English wasn’t the best. Someone was translating but even he wasn’t that good.

“I knew what they were up to – trying to force me and put pressure on me to sign but I said no.

“It was like they were keeping me prisoner. “I went to have a look and almost never came back!”

He added: “It is not a problem because now because I am at Dundee United.“it was very strange but everything is good now.”