When Oumar Niasse joined Everton last season, under manager Roberto Martinez, he looked set for success as the club spent £13.5 million on him, making him one of their most expensive signings ever.
Niasse had been playing well in the Russian Premier League and scoring goals, but made just five appearances for the Merseyside club in the league after making the move in February, all of which came last season before Ronald Koeman was named as the manager. In total, he has seen just over 150 minutes on the pitch since he got to Goodison.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Niasse explained that the situation he's going through at Everton at the moment is particularly difficult, and that he has been sent into a sort of exile by the Dutch manager.
"I’m in the dressing-room with the under-23s but I don’t have a locker," Niasse told the paper. "The other players have [some]where they put their stuff but I don’t. I come with my bag and I just have a place that I know. I put my bag down, I train and after, I put everything in my car and go home."
Without anywhere to even hang his coat, Koeman made clear to Niasse that he was welcome to leave, but as the transfer window edged to a close, the Senegalese striker decided that he would stay and fight for his place after making his dream move to the Premier League.
However, the situation under Koeman has seen Niasse sidelined completely, and only feature for 45 minutes in a pre-season game. Niasse explains that the Dutchman told him to find another club, and he decided not to even question him on it.
"He’s the manager. What can I do? I called my agent and he said that he would look into the opportunities for me. To be honest, I didn’t ask Koeman to explain his reasons. I just thought, even if I asked why, I would never understand. After just 45 minutes, you cannot say to me: 'You are no good.'"
"It’s sad, it’s really sad, and, to be honest, I think that I don’t deserve this," Niasse told The Guardian. "But what I can do is just keep my head and fight to change things. I’m not going to make a drama over this. I just deal with it. I know that it’s just one period."
Niasse explains that he has also been stripped of his squad number and that he has had offers from other clubs around Europe, but he has his sights set firmly on staying in England. However, having also been through a difficult period in Moscow, he knows that he can produce for the Toffees and that he can somehow make the manager change his mind.
"I had opportunities but I wanted to play in the Premier League and it’s because I know I can do a lot of things in the Premier League. That’s why I am keeping my head, even if it’s hard now."
Via The Guardian
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