Mahamadou Diarra, despite his contract with Fulham ending last summer, continues to train with the team. However, the manager, Martin Jol, is cautious about renewing his contract due to concerns about Diarra’s knee.
Jol stated, “I don’t think he will go back to being the player he was at Lyon. Several scenarios are possible, such as paying him per match. But first, we need to have the green light from the medical staff regarding the healing of his knee.” The Dutch coach emphasizes the need for assurance about Diarra’s knee condition before making any decisions.
The Malian midfielder was known as one of the best ball retrievers in Europe, displaying strength in duels and heading ability. His versatile and fluid style of play made him effective both defensively and offensively. Diarra experienced success at Real Madrid, notably scoring a decisive goal in the last match of La Liga 2006-2007, securing the championship for Real.
However, a knee injury has kept him away from international selection since the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013. The uncertainty surrounding his knee health now adds complexity to his potential contract renewal with Fulham.
