Who was United's only Senegal international?

Sunday 04 December 2022 09:00

Senegal are in the spotlight as they prepare to face England in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar.

The Africa Cup of Nations holders recovered from a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands to beat Qatar and Ecuador, in order to clinch a place in the knockout stages.

Despite the loss of Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane to injury on the eve of the tournament, they are set to provide a formidable challenge to Gareth Southgate's side in the 19:00 GMT kick-off.

United 3 Burnley 0 Video

United 3 Burnley 0

16 January 2010: Three second-half goals secured a hard-fought win for United against a spirited Burnley...

United have only ever had one Senegal international play for the club - Mame Biram Diouf.

Legendary full-back Patrice Evra was born in Dakar but represented France, of course, so Diouf stands alone in this regard.

Sir Alex Ferguson sprung a surprise when announcing details of the deal for the Molde striker in the summer of 2009. Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, during our tour, he admitted things had changed after earlier stressing the spending was over for the close season.

“We have been looking at him for two years,” revealed Ferguson. “We weren’t intending on signing anyone else but the situation accelerated to a point where other clubs started to make bids, so we had to decide whether we acted or didn’t act.

“You have to watch hundreds of strikers before you find one who can win matches. When you find him, you sign him! He’s quick and he’s got a magnificent spring in the air for someone of 5ft 10ins [in height]. He has good intelligence and a good feel for the game.”

The centre-forward was loaned back to the Norwegian club and arrived the following January, after receiving a work permit.

Mame Biram Diouf knew how to celebrate scoring a goal!

While he did not match the success of another striker signing from Molde, a certain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the African attacker marked his home debut with a goal in the 3-0 victory over Burnley at Old Trafford.

It proved to be his only competitive strike, as he made nine appearances in all competitions, but he did net twice in Paul Scholes's testimonial against New York Cosmos and played in three League Cup games in 2011/12.

This came after a loan at Blackburn Rovers and he ended up joining Hannover in Germany in 2012.

A return to the Premier League was clinched, two years later, when he moved to Stoke City, where he spent six years.

Diouf was part of Senegal's squad at the last World Cup finals, in 2018, but the country went out at the group stage after a third-placed finish behind Colombia and Japan.

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