The spotlight shifted from the pitch to the bench as Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia refused to enter the game in the dying minutes, a decision that might mark the end of his stint with Salernitana.
As the match hung in the balance with a 1-1 scoreline, Salernitana’s coach, Fabio Liverani, sought to introduce Dia to make a potential impact.
However, the former Villarreal player had different intentions and declined the substitution, choosing to remain on the bench until the final whistle.
Liverani, expressing his disbelief, confirmed the unexpected turn of events, stating, “Boulaye Dia refused to enter 7 minutes from the end. I can’t count on him.”
The root cause of Dia’s refusal lies in lingering grievances from the summer transfer window, where he had hoped for a move that the club denied.
The 2022 African champion holds the view that the club’s decision to retain him against his wishes has strained his commitment.
Liverani addressed the situation, acknowledging Dia’s definitive choice and emphasizing the potential impact on the team.
He commented, “The problem is not for me, but for his teammates. Remove him from the group? I don’t think that’s the right word, but I understand that he’s someone I can’t count on.”
This decision introduces an air of uncertainty surrounding Dia’s future with Salernitana and raises questions about his involvement in the remainder of the season.
🇸🇳 Boulaye Dia refused to enter the pitch today, Salernitana manager Fabio Liverani says: “I wanted him to enter in the final 7-8 minutes but he said no”.
The relationship between Salernitana and Dia is broken since club rejected to sell him to Wolves at the end of August. pic.twitter.com/bXomJpkDi5
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 2, 2024
