Chelsea travel to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon
Papy Djilobodji.
Papy Djilobodji had a turbulent time in the Premier League(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Papy Djilobodji once insisted he wasn't wanted at Chelsea as he departed Stamford Bridge for the Stadium of Light.
But things went from bad to worse at Sunderland as the defender went AWOL and had his contract ripped up. Djilobodji's former clubs will face each other on Sunday afternoon but he'll likely not watch the Premier League clash.
The centre-half joined Chelsea for £2.7million in 2015 from Nantes, signing a four-year deal. He ended up on loan to Werder Bremen during the January transfer window and joined Sunderland a year after his initial move to England.
After confirming his switch to the Black Cats, Djilobodji admitted he didn't feel like part of the Blues. He told L’Equipe: "I am really happy and I will give everything for this club. I hope to have playing time, but the coach [David Moyes] called me.
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"It was important for me and it encouraged me to come here. We did not talk about a starting spot, but he told me he wanted me in his team. That was motivating. It was something that I haven’t heard at Chelsea."
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Djilobodji added: "I’m not the type of player to go to the coach to ask him to play me, I’ve never done that.
"An assistant of Mourinho told me to talk to him but no, I did not. What I show in training, for me, that’s enough. After, if he wants to play me, is good. And if it does not play me, no worries, I stay on the bench quietly. I was not at all depressed and I was supported."
Chelsea's Papy Djilobodji during a training session at the Cobham Training Ground on 30th December 2015 in Cobham, England.
Djilobodji left Chelsea just one year after joining(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Life was not rosy on Wearside for Djilobodji, who made 24 appearances for Sunderland and his only contribution was a red card against Hull City. Djilobodji also headed out on loan to Dijon and claimed that the club were keen to sign him permanently.
However, the defender told French outlet Le Telegramme that his parent side were "asking for too much money." Sunderland were relegated twice and after their demotion to League One, the defender failed to report for pre-season training and went AWOL.
The 37-year-old faced the threat of legal action from chairman Stewart Donald, who said he was taking advice on the possibility of suing Djilobodji. His contract was eventually ripped up as a statement from the club read: "Sunderland AFC has given notice under its contract with Papy Djilobodji. Djilobodji, who was under contract to SAFC until June 2020, indicated in June 2018 that he wished to leave the club.
Sunderland's Senegalese defender Papy Djilobodji (C) reacts after English referee Andre Marriner (2L) showed him a yellow card during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and Leicester City at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, north-east England on December 3, 2016.
Djilobodji's Sunderland stint didn't go any better than his tenure at Chelsea(Image: Lindsey PARNABY / AFP via Getty Images)
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"In order to facilitate that desire, the club entered into a written agreement with the player allowing him to spend the month of July on voluntary unpaid leave. When that period came to an end, the player was expected either to leave for a new club – having reached a deal satisfactory to himself and SAFC – or to return in shape to play professional football.
"Instead, he returned to Sunderland over a month later, in the first week of September, ignoring written requests for his return. On his return, he was subjected to the same fitness test that his fellow professionals had undertaken on their return. He comprehensively failed that test. As a result, Sunderland AFC can confirm that it has accepted Papy Djilobodji’s repudiatory breaches of contract and notice of the same has been provided to the player."
When quizzed about his view, Djilobodji said: "It was not easy but I am mentally strong. My family and my friends really helped me. I learned a lot in England, I trained with very big players. I would have liked to show more things but that's life. Today, I am back in France and my head is more rested."
Djilobodji left the Premier League in 2018 and had stints in France and Turkey. He was released by Sariyer SK earlier in February and is still without a club.
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