Sunderland's Papy Djilobodji: 'Chelsea never told me that they wanted me'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 08 August 2016

New Sunderland defender Papy Djilobodji claims that Chelsea never wanted him during his brief season-long spell at Stamford Bridge.

Sunderland defender Papy Djilobodji has claimed that during his brief stint at Chelsea, he was never told that he was wanted in the team.

The 27-year-old joined the Blues from Nantes for £2.7m on transfer deadline day last summer, but made just one appearance as an 89th-minute substitute in a Capital One Cup match.

Last week, Sunderland manager David Moyes gave Djilobodji a lifeline by signing him on a four-year deal for an £8m fee.

"I am really happy and I will give everything for this club," Djilobodji told L'Equipe. "I hope to have playing time, but the coach called me. It was important for me and it encouraged me to come here. We did not talk about a starting spot, but he told me he wanted me in his team. That was motivating. It was something that I haven't heard at Chelsea.

"I'm not the type of player to go to the coach to ask him to play me, I've never done that. An assistant of Mourinho told me to talk to him but no, I did not. What I show in training, for me, that's enough. After, if he wants to play me, is good. And if it does not play me, no worries, I stay on the bench quietly. I was not at all depressed and I was supported."

Djilobodji spent the second half of last season on loan at Werder Bremen, where he scored twice in 14 Bundesliga games.