**With the international break meaning no football is being played on Wearside this week, we thought it was the perfect time to speak to Ruben, a Royale Union Saint-Gilloise supporter from the** [**Inside020**](https://x.com/Inside_020) **fan group, to discuss Noah's summer transfer and how he feels about it in hindsight...**
**Sadiki is already a key player in this Sunderland side, how important was he for USG last season?**
I’d say Noah was fundamental to Union’s success last season. At the start of last season, he was by far Union’s best player and I’d argue he was one of the best players in the league back then.
**Did you think he would come straight into the team and impress? Or did you think it would take some time to settle in?**
When I saw that he signed for Sunderland, I didn’t expect him to be an immediate starter. Especially because Sunderland’s record signing Diarra, Xhaka and Le Fee are all players who are capable to play as a midfielder. I expected him to succeed in the Premier League, but certainly not immediately.
**Reports suggest we paid £15m for the midfielder, were you happy with this price at the time?**
I was a bit disappointed with the fee as I wanted a little bit more for him. We can't be greedy though, it's still a good amount!
**What was your favourite trait of Sadiki as a Union Saint-Gilloise player?**
I think my favourite trait of him was his ability to judge where the ball would end up after a failed attack. The amount of recoveries he made was impressive, combined with his work rate it was lovely to watch.
**He's clearly a popular player in the dressing room due to his bubbly personality, was he popular among your fanbase?**
He was a very popular player in the dressing room at Union. They had a nickname for him, Pingu, after the show with the penguin, because of his height and his big feet. The Union fans are always very supportive of their players and Sadiki certainly was a very loved one at Union. When he left, I immediately bought Sunderland’s 3rd kit with his name on the back!
**Noah jokingly calls himself "Kanté's younger brother"! Do you see similarities in their style of play?**
The comparison with Kanté is not a crazy one. I have watched some Sunderland games this season and I have enjoyed his work rate a lot. That combined with his ability to win the ball back and his height, of course it is expected that sooner or later a Kanté-comparison will be made.
**Were you surprised to see him come to Sunderland?**
I did not expect Sadiki to sign for Sunderland, no. I expected him to move on, everyone at Union expected him to do so. However, I expected him to make a move to Germany or France, rather than the Premier League.
**And are you surprised with how we've started the season?**
I am very surprised by the start of Sunderland this season. You have been very impressive this season and I think relegation is not even a thing anymore for Sunderland at the moment, which I hoped for, but didn’t really expect.
**Finally, he's only 20 so there's plenty of room for development. These things are impossible to predict but where do you see Noah's ceiling being?**
He is only 20 and I think the sky is the limit for him. I hope he will continue like this at Sunderland and if he does so, I don’t see why a top 6 Premier League side wouldn’t sign him.