Mali coach Tom Saintfiet has backed midfielder Aliou Dieng to succeed at Valencia, signaling his switch to the Spanish outfit.
The Mestalla outfit had expressed keen interest to secure the signature of the defensive midfielder in the winter transfer window in an attempt to bolster their squad for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite no official confirmation from both teams, Tom Saintfiet has moved to confirm Dieng’s transfer, stressing he would succeed at the club.
“Dieng has amazing potential, he is a key player in the Malian national team, and the team’s captain, and Al Ahly will certainly lose Dieng on a technical level.” He said on El Clasico show.
“I am confident that Dieng will succeed with Valencia, he will explode there and shine in Spain, and the offer is historic and does not come around often. It’s a good thing that he’s leaving Al Ahly for Valencia, and this is to Al Ahly’s credit.”
Dieng has made 23 appearances for the Egyptian club across all competitions this season, providing an assist in the process.
He joined Al Ahly in July 2019 on a five-year contract and has since established himself as a key member of the team. He has won several titles with the club, including the Egyptian Premier League, CAF Champions League, and CAF Super Cup.
At the international level, Dieng has represented Mali in several tournament including the Africa Cup of Nations. Since making his debut in 2016, the midfielder has made 46 appearances, scoring two goals.
