Granit Xhaka has explained how several former Sunderland players helped him make the decision to join the English club this summer.
The former Arsenal player completed a move to the “Black Cats” for a £17 million package after the club returned to the Premier League following a long absence.
Sunderland immediately appointed him captain, and Xhaka has been shining under the guidance of Regis Le Bris, helping the Black Cats climb high up the table and even target European qualification, The Sun reports.
The 33-year-old admitted that he had expected to finish his career in Germany after signing a long-term contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
However, when Sunderland made contact, he felt the desire for a new challenge. After discussions with his family, Xhaka was advised by two former Sunderland players: Jermain Defoe, the former Tottenham hero who enjoyed a successful spell at the club, and Lorik Cana, who joined Sunderland in 2009.
“I didn’t expect to return to the Premier League, but my decision came very quickly,” Xhaka told FourFourTwo.
“I spoke with Kyril [Louis-Dreyfus], I spoke with Jermain Defoe, and I spoke with Lorik Cana, who has a similar background to mine and had a great spell here at Sunderland. Kyril was very open from the beginning. Then, when you start to see yourself coming to this club, you ask former players, and both Jermain and Lorik spoke very highly of the club and the fans,” he added.
Xhaka also recalled his contract in Germany.
“When I left Arsenal for Leverkusen, I signed a five-year contract — it was long-term for a 30-year-old, because I thought I wanted to finish in Germany and then see what would happen next,” Xhaka explained.
The midfielder also stressed the importance of the family decision.
“But after the talks with Sunderland, I found myself sitting with my family, thinking: ‘What should we do?’ At this stage, it’s not just about me — it’s about my wife, the children, my brother and my parents. It’s important that we make the right decision as a group, together,” he said.
