Sunderland January signing Enzo Le Fee has outlined what one key figure said to persuade him to join up on Wearside.
Enzo Le Fee joined Sunderland this January and was tipped as one of the best Championship signings.
Kristjaan Speakman bringing in a player on loan who had moved for £19million to Roma in the summer was always going to raise eyebrows and create expectations, and the Frenchman has certainly managed to defy that in recent weeks.
Despite playing somewhat out of position for Sunderland on the left flank, with him being utilised predominantly in the centre of the park prior in his career, he has been immense for Regis Le Bris’ side, after notably bagging his first goal on Wearside in the recent 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light against Luton Town.
Le Fee could be the difference in the promotion push, and Black Cats fans will have one man to thank in helping to persuade the Frenchman to join the club.
Sunderland star Enzo Le Fee reveals phone call with Regis Le Bris that made him want to join
It was clear that French boss Le Bris was a key player in the deal for Le Fee being completed because the Black Cats coach and the left-winger both spent time at Lorient.
Coming off the back of a topsy-turvy start to life at Roma, Le Fee needed a guarantee of game time, and he was always going to trust one of his former coaches to provide that.
The winger was quizzed, per Sunderland Echo, as to what made him want to join the club, to which he said: “No. He [Le Bris] sent me a message about how I feel in Rome. I didn’t play a lot. He called me to speak about the project in Sunderland. I liked the project so he just showed that it’s a good project for me. He didn’t need to speak a lot as well because it’s him. I’ve known him for a few years. I wanted to come to Sunderland. I spoke with my agent, I told him to let the other club go to Sunderland. So, now I’m here.
“When I came here, I wanted to play football to find my football again. For me, it’s the perfect project. I’m in a very good team. I can help the team as well. My goal is to assist and fight again. I enjoy it. I’m here because I want to get promoted with Sunderland, because, for me, Sunderland has to be in the Premier League and not in the Championship. So, I’m here to help the team.”
Enzo Le Fee and fellow signings’ attitude shows clear difference to previous years
In recent seasons, Sunderland have had a relatively high turnover of players, both coming in and out every window.
Since Le Bris’ arrival, there has been a sense of stability surrounding the squad, something that was fairly non-existent last season under Michael Beale during his short tenure.
Because of this stability, there is much more of a sense of collective interest in performing to the top of their abilities, not just for their personal goals, but for the sake of the club.
Many signings this season have settled brilliantly in Sunderland, such as Le Fee and even Wilson Isidor, who has become a fan favourite, and this in turn breeds the mindset of leaving everything out on the pitch and going that extra mile for the club.