Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor reacts to club’s major off-field appointment
Sunderland’s appointment of a new director of football has led to reaction social media from one of their star men.
The Black Cats are back in the Premier League next season for the first time in eight years after winning promotion through the play-offs in May.
Tom Watson scored a dramatic late winner as the Black Cats defeated Sheffield United at Wembley.
Manager Regis Le Bris is beginning to build his squad with the permanent signing of Enzo Le Fee following his loan spell and the £30million acquisition of Strasbourg captain Habib Diarra.
Sunderland announce new director of football
Taking to social media (2 July) Sunderland released a statement confirming the appointment of Florent Ghisolfi as the club’s new director of football, which was liked by player Wilson Isidor.
Ghisolfi leaves Serie A club AS Roma to take up the role having previously working for RC Lens and OCG Nice in France in the same position.
The 40-year-old said he wanted to “support the group to ensure the squad is ready to take the next step.”
Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus added: “This appointment enhances our capabilities in line with the club’s long-term vision, and evolving our leadership structure in this way reflects our continued commitment to building a sustainable and competitive football club.”
Ghisolfi could aid Sunderland’s transfer business
Sunderland are continuing to build on and off the pitch and the appointment of Ghisolfi could be excellent business by the club.
Ghisolfi is growing his reputation in Europe for talent identification, which could benefit Sunderland’s transfer business this summer.
The Black Cats had one of the youngest squads in the Championship last season and have been able to sell Watson and fellow midfielder Jobe Bellingham for significant sums.
The signing of Diarra points to the club wanting to keep to their strategy of buying young hungry players with a view to selling them on in the future.
21-year-old Diarra though already has plenty of experience having helped Strasbourg to European qualification for only the second time in 20 years.
| Appearances | 94 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 9 |
25-year-old Le Fee spent the second half of last season on loan at the club and bringing creativity to the side.
Inevitably experience of the Premier League will need to be sought and the club hope they can reunite with academy product Jordan Henderson.
The former Liverpool captain is also wanted by Nottingham Forest and Marseille.
If Le Bris can work with Ghisolfi successfully to create a competitive Premier League squad then the Black Cats could buck the trend of promoted sides being instantly relegated back down to the Championship.