Source: SKY_Sports
Cisse thankful for options
Djibril Cisse has slammed the way he was treated by Sunderland, but insists he is happy to be heading elsewhere.
The French striker enjoyed a productive loan spell with the Black Cats last season and had hoped to see that agreement made permanent.
He claims to have been advised that the club were also keen to bring him in on a full-time basis, only to see no deal materialise at the end of the campaign.
Unwilling to head back to Marseille, his parent club, Cisse now finds himself in limbo, but believes it will not take long for him to find another club.
"I went into the final game thinking that I was going to be taken on," he told The Guardian.
"Because I had been told, when we are safe, we talk contracts. It's either a lie or a misunderstanding on my side but I think I understand English well enough to understand what that sentence means.
"I am angry because I tried to talk to them in January about my future and the manager [Ricky Sbragia] said: 'Djib, you have to stop talking'. So I stopped talking.
"The chairman [Niall Quinn] said I had to wait until we are safe, so I wait until the last day to hear: 'Thank you, we are not going to take up the option.'
"Luckily, I have other opportunities, otherwise I would be stuck."
Sunderland had agreed a 9million euros (£7.7m) deal with Marseille upon taking Cisse to the North East, and the 28-year-old believes he would have provided good value for money.
"They had to pay 9million euros to Marseille, which was £7m at the time and it is now about £8m, but I still don't think that is a lot of money for a striker who is going to score 15 goals," he added.
"I can't take this excuse, that's why I am annoyed. If you want to stay in the Premier League and try to be regulars in the Premier League, you're going to have to pay more than £10m for strikers.
"I am just waiting to see who they buy. Are they going to find a £6m striker or are they going to buy a £12-£15m striker?"
Despite his disenchantment at the way things went for him at Sunderland, Cisse admits he would be willing to discuss terms with a Premier League side this summer.
"If I had the chance to come back to another English club, I'd have to face Sunderland and it would be up to me to make them regret their decision," he said.
"Sometimes you have to be strong and show the people that they made a big mistake. Obviously, what I did this season wasn't good enough for Ricky and Niall so we will see next season."
