Following a failed deal for Boulaye Dia that was “a diplomatic incident,” Salernitana declared that they “will not forget what Wolverhampton Wanderers did.”
- Wolves’ loan bid for Dia rejected
- Player angry at Salernitana
- Out of squad for Lecce game
WHAT OCCURED? There were rumors Wolves had made a bid for the center-forward on the deadline day, but it was quickly turned down. As a result of her irate response, Dia was later removed from the group by the squad and manager Paulo Sousa ahead of Sunday’s Serie A encounter with Lecce.
THEIR COMMENTS The sporting director of Salernitana, Morgan De Sanctis, commented on the rumors that Wolves had swooped for Dia in the closing hours of the transfer window: “The last few days of the transfer market were the most confusing. We had already locked our doors, so it wasn’t our objective. Someone wants to do everything perfectly in the end, so those were frantic hours. Regarding Dia, I want to make a statement that demands respect for Salernitana, for myself, for the club’s heritage, and for the supporters.
“Late on Thursday night, we received a call discussing a loan with the option to purchase for sums that, if I were to disclose them, would spark an international crisis. None of their directors got in touch with me directly. It had an impact on Dia. Because we desire a relationship of mutual respect and the possibility of continuing our relationship as we did for the last 12 months, I want the player to realize how much we have given him.
“I’ll just say that I, the President, and everyone in Salernitana won’t forget what Wolverhampton did,” I said. Dia’s attitude indicated that he was not prepared to play against Lecce, hence he was not called up. That is open to your interpretation. We need players who are ready to fight alongside us since that game will be a battle. His demeanor appeared to be shifting in the opposite direction.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Salernitana recently exercised their option to buy Dia from Villarreal for €12 million after having him on loan from them for the entirety of the previous season. With his current club through 2026, the Senegal international has made 36 appearances and scored 17 goals.
WHAT WILL DIA DO NEXT? Despite not being included in the squad for the upcoming match against Lecce, the club administration and the striker will probably meet to discuss a solution over the course of the upcoming international break because they are keen to have Dia back in the lineup.
