Wesley Snock: Mbaye Diagne Should be Playing for Barcelona or Real Madrid

Belgium youth national team gaffer Wesley Sonck believes troubled Senegalese striker Mbaye Diagne should have been starring for Europe’s big guns.

The forward was one of the most sought-after gems and at one point leapfrogged the calibre of Ronaldo and Messi in the Europe big-five league scoring charts.

His scoring prowess forced Galatasary –one of the cash-flaunting sides of the Turkish Super Lig – to part with €13m to poach him from nemesis Kasimpasa.

Acquisition of the 28-year-old, it was hoped, was a much-needed beef up to a then profligacy-gripped Galatasary attacking frontline.

However, the aforesaid transfer price tag had the Senegalese bearing the brunt of having to rise to the occasion from an impatient Galatasaray fan base and the club felt it won’t be a wasted investment to ship him out to Club Brugge.

His transfer there has been one of disenchantment at least on the part of no-nonsense gaffer in Phillipe Clement who has ostracised the West African.

And weighing into what’s a long drawn out club-player saga, Belgium youth national team coach Sonck believes the Taranga Lions’ striker would have been sharing the tunnel with Messi or Bale or Modric if not for his mentality.

“Perhaps one of the best finishers is no longer at his best. I am talking about Mbaye Diagne. But his mentality is not right. That’s always something else.

“Actually, it’s simple. A striker with everything in the right places would not play for Club Brugge but for Barcelona, Real Madrid or Juventus,” Wesley said in reference to the goal-getter’s dramatic from grace.