Kenny gutted for Coulibaly after ‘heartbreaking’ Sheffield United update
Ismaila Coulibaly is in a “heartbreaking” predicament on loan away from Sheffield United in Belgium.
That is the view of Blades icon Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 20-year-old Malian midfielder.
Coulibaly signed for United in September last year and was immediately sent on a three-year loan deal to Beerschot.
Beerschot is part of the Blades’ multi-club network and the plan was to park him there until he obtained a work permit.
But Brexit threw a legislative spanner in the works and now Coulibaly is unsure whether he will ever join up with the Blades.
As quoted by Yorkshire Live on 27 October, Coulibaly admitted: “Sometimes I wake up and I’ve had enough of football.”
Kenny sympathises with the youngster’s situation but suggested that United may be forced to take a clinical approach.
“It’s pretty heartbreaking for him,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“When things like this happen, you can’t see him being very happy. It’s the unknown aspect that makes it difficult.
“As a human being, being away from your family for so long and not knowing what’s happening is difficult.
“But do you cut your losses, let him go and see how his career pans out? Or do you press on and hope things work out with his work permit?
“He might end up coming to Sheffield United and being a really good player. Clearly, they’ve seen something in him.
“It just depends whether you’re prepared to take that gamble when there’s a chance it won’t come off.”
In other news, Kenny hails crunch Sheffield United talks after what he has seen “in person“.