Mbaye Diagne to sign for Westerlo

By tdf, December 12, 2014

Senegalese giant Mbaye Diagne was signed by Juve in the Summer of 2013 after a sterling season at Serie D side, during which he plundered 23 goals from 29 games. Loaned to french side Ajaccio, managed by non other than former Juve favourite Fabrizio Ravanelli, it was hoped that the big man would make the step up from the lower leagues in Italy to the gallic top flight.

Unfortunately, his career growth was stunted, for he was unable to play a single match for Ajaccio due to his lack of international appearances for Senegal. Finding himself lacking wages from both clubs, the big man trained diligently and was found a new club by December by Paratici. His destination was Belgian Pro League side Lierse.

Playing with the B team until his transfer could be processed, Diagne soon after worked his way into the starting XI of the A team. By the close of the season he has scored 7 in 11 appearances. Food for thought I assumed, as did many other.

Only the devil knows as to why the striker was subsequently loaned to Saudi side Al Shabab earlier this year. He proceeded to make barely 3 outings, failed to find the net and was frozen out of the squad. Seemingly destined for the scrapheap, despite showing real promise in italy and Belgium, it came as a welcome surprise this week to learn of his return to the Pro League, this time heading to Westerlo.

His new side sit a bothersome 11th in the league table, yet if Diagne can find his feet quickly and return to the lethal levels shown at Lierse, who can say? Perhaps he will drag the team into european contention! Still only 23, the giant has plenty of time to make his mark…

As you can see in the video below, Mbaye has immense strength, a wonderful goalscoring talent and solid pace.