31 July 2023 , 12:38
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Some fans want trophies... but all Sheffield United fans wanted was Iliman Ndiaye.
Star of the club's promotion campaign, the Blades supporters were ready to see what Ndiaye, their star player, could do in the Premier League. Instead the Senegal international has picked the Champions League over the Premier League, and picked his heart over his head, deciding at the 11th hour to reject a new contract at Bramall Lane for a move to Marseille.
United were promoted back to the Premier League in April, ending a two-year exile from the top flight. In their last Premier League campaign, Ndiaye was a reserve who was limited to a single substitute appearance against Leicester... a 5-0 loss.
Since, he has become the club's talisman. Under the management of Paul Heckingbottom, he was transformed from the rawest of talents into arguably the most exciting player outside English football's top division.
Ndiaye scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists to held United finish second in the Championship last year. He made a fool of defenders throughout England's second tier, using his fine balance and silky footwork to dance effortlessly into dangerous positions.
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He mixed impressive stats, with a style that excited supporters. Tottenham fans were shown exactly what he can do after he bamboozled three defenders and hammered the ball inside Fraser Forster's near post during an FA Cup tie in March.
Yet there was always the worry that Ndiaye would depart this summer - and specifically for Marseille. His desire to play for the French giants, his boyhood club, was well known and his contract situation didn't help, with the forward's Bramall Lane deal expiring in June 2024.
Supporters spotted early in the summer that several items were put up for sale on Facebook Marketplace place by a woman in Sheffield believed to be his partner. "Moving house so I need it gone ASAP," read the caption. His departure became expected.
But Blades owner, Prince Abdullah, spoke directly to Ndiaye and offered him a drastically improved contract - lucrative enough to challenge Marseille's offer - as well as the club's No.10 shirt, vacated following club captain Billy Sharp's departure. Knowing Ndiaye would eventually go on to bigger and better things, they were even willing to put TWO release clauses into his new contract. The first would have protected him if the club were relegated, the other would've landed a big transfer fee if they stayed up.
Ndiaye was one of the most exciting players outside of the Premier League (Getty Images)Please write your messages of support for the author (a Sheffield United fan) in the comments below...
United thought they had done enough. His departure went from being expected to all but off the table. He would be the man around whom a Premier League survival bid would be based.
An announcement video and a press release were prepared, with quotes from manager Heckingbottom and the club's CEO Stephen Bettis. The video finished with Blades legend Sharp speaking as Ndiaye accepted his old shirt. United's hopes were boosted further when Ndiaye played and scored in a 3-1 win at Derby on Saturday afternoon. As he toyed with the hopeless League One defenders, the 23-year-old didn't look like a man on the move.
Yet the contract was never signed.
When all the dominos were lined up, Ndiaye knocked them all over by changing his mind - reiterating his desire to join Marseille, the club who released him nine years ago - and forcing United to quickly negotiate a cut-price fee. Reports in France suggested Marseille paid just £14million, however Mirror Football understands the fee is higher.
Within hours of the news of his U-turn going public, a video emerged on social media of Ndiaye being mobbed by fans after he arrived at Marseille Airport at 1am to complete the transfer. The delighted star sang with his new adoring public.
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In the end, United were powerless. It's very hard to keep a player who no longer wants to play for your club when you aren't one of the biggest sharks in the pool.
Ndiaye is a fan favourite at Bramall Lane (Getty Images)The question now for United and their fans is: What's next?
The club is currently up for sale and Prince Abdullah, controversially, is refusing to give Heckingbottom a decent budget. It's believed the Blades boss won't even get to spend £30m this summer.
Losing Ndiaye is one thing, but United have also said goodbye to Manchester City pair Tommy Doyle and James McAtee after their loan spells ended. Ndiaye, Doyle and McAtee were arguably Heckingbottom's best three players last season.
Relegation is now looking likely. Ndiaye was arguably the best footballer to grace Bramall Lane in a generation, and the Blades will need a miracle to survive in the Premier League. They've got a month to find that miracle in the transfer market.