Sunderland signed Nilson Angulo from Anderlecht this winter
RSC Anderlecht owner Marc Coucke has opened up on the club’s decision to sell Nilson Angulo to Sunderland this January amid claims that the Belgian outfit simply “couldn’t ignore” the fee offered by the Black Cats.
Regis Le Bris’ men wrapped up a deadline day swoop for the Ecuadorian winger last week, paying an initial £15 million for his signature with a further £2.5 million in potential future add-ons included.
Since then, Angulo made his debut for his new club on Saturday afternoon, coming on for a cameo appearance from the bench in the latter stages of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
It remains to be seen whether the 22-year-old will be handed a first start in red and white against Liverpool on Wednesday night, but speaking in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Le Bris described his recent acquisition as “fit” and “ready”.
And while Sunderland fans wait eagerly to see how quickly Angulo will adapt to life in England, Coucke has made it clear that in an ideal world he would have liked to keep the player in Belgium for a while longer.
Speaking on De Tafel van Gert, as quoted by Voetbal 24, the Anderlecht chief explained the “controversial” decision to cash in on Angulo, stating: “If you don’t play European football for a season, you’re in a situation where you have to sell to keep the club healthy.”
Voetbal 24 themselves then add that Anderlecht “couldn’t ignore” Sunderland’s hefty offer for a player who cost just £1.7 million in 2022, highlighting the “huge profit” that his former employers have pocketed because of the deal.
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What has Nilson Angulo said about his Anderlecht exit?
For his part, Angulo seemed genuinely emotional to be parting company with Anderlecht before embarking on his new adventure at the Stadium of Light.
Writing on social media, Angulo said: “Dear Anderlecht Family... Today marks the end of a very special chapter in my career and my life. Today I say goodbye to you all to begin a new chapter, but before I do, I want to thank everyone who is part of this institution, which opened its doors to me and gave me the opportunity to fulfil one of my childhood dreams: to play for a great club in Europe.
“I want to express my gratitude for the trust and support the club has given me at all times. To my teammates and the staft, for the daily work and for helping me grow as a footballer. It has been a pleasure to share the dressing room with all of you.
“And of course, to all the fans, who make Anderlecht even greater, for your constant support of me and the team, through thick and thin. I wish you all much success and all the best in the future. With love...” Angulo then concluded his message with a purple heart emoji.
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