Cesc Fabregas criticized Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw after forward Assane Diao picked up a flexor injury just before the AFCON, revealing an “unpleasant conversation” where he was told Diao would miss the World Cup if he declined the tournament call-up.
Como forward Assane Diao sustained a flexor injury in the 35th minute of their 1-0 defeat to Roma, leaving the pitch in tears and later using crutches.
The 20-year-old’s participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations for Senegal is now uncertain, pending a full assessment. Diao was scheduled to join the national team just days before Senegal’s opening match on December 23rd.
Como manager Cesc Fabregas, a target for Barcelona, expressed frustration after the match and revealed a “frosty chat” with Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw.
Fabregas had requested Thiaw not to call up Diao, citing the player’s long-term metatarsal and recent hamstring issues.
Fabregas was “sorry for the boy” as he was playing with “the fear of a player who is 20 years old with a career ahead of him.”
Fabregas recounted that the Senegal coach justified the call-up by warning Diao would miss the World Cup if he skipped the AFCON.
Fabregas stated: “The Senegal coach told me that if Diao hadn’t gone to the Africa Cup of Nations, he definitely wouldn’t have gone to the World Cup. I didn’t like that, and that’s why it was an unpleasant conversation.”