Mamadou Sangare has revealed that he rejected interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs to join Brentford, believing the Premier League side offered the best environment for his development.
The Mali midfielder moved to the Bees in a club-record deal after an outstanding season with RC Lens, who finished Ligue 1 runners-up and won the French Cup. He was also named in the league’s Team of the Year, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain midfielders Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz.
Sangare said the identity of the clubs who approached him would remain private, but confirmed there were “a lot” of them.
“For me, the most important thing was to know where I could progress. And Brentford was the best place for my development,” he said.
“A coach who really wanted me was something that was important to me. That’s why I chose Brentford.”
The 24-year-old said the size or reputation of a club was not enough to determine his next move. He wanted a clear pathway to improvement and believed Brentford could help him reach his potential.
“Just because a big club comes calling, it doesn’t mean you have to say yes to it,” Sangare said. “You have to see a lot of different aspects.
“I’m a little different from other players because I see things differently. For me, Brentford was the best option – as a young player, as a player who still has to prove himself at a high level.”
Brentford’s detailed pitch impressed Sangare
Brentford made a strong impression with a detailed presentation outlining how Sangare would fit into the team and where he could improve. The club also showed him the manager’s style of play, his expected role and the areas of his game that needed work.
“It was incredible. It was the first time I’ve ever seen something like that,” Sangare said. “I’ve been at a few clubs, but I’ve never seen an approach like that.”
He added: “He showed me my weaknesses and what I needed to work on. I’m a young player, I really liked that.
“When a coach speaks to you like that, it shows that he wants to see you improve. It was really important for me.”
Sangare made an immediate impression on his Premier League debut, providing two assists as Brentford defeated Tottenham on the opening weekend. He has since found his opportunities more limited, starting the club’s last two matches against Chelsea and Aston Villa from the bench.
There is no injury concern. Instead, he is competing with established midfielders Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen, while Yehor Yarmoliuk is also pushing for a place.
“The most important thing is the team. That’s what counts,” Sangare said. “Whether I start or not, as long as they need me, I’ll be there.
“It’s up to me to work even harder to get my place back, even though I wouldn’t say that I lost it.”
His performances have nevertheless marked him out as one of the Premier League’s leading defensive midfielders. Sangare averages the most tackles per 90 minutes in the division, while only Manchester City’s Elliot Anderson has won more ground duels than him.
Brentford remain unbeaten after six Premier League matches and sit fourth, having beaten Chelsea and Tottenham and drawn with Aston Villa. Liverpool are next to visit the Gtech Community Stadium.
Sangare believes the Bees should aim higher than simply qualifying for Europe. “Why can’t we also reach the top four, or the top two?” he said. “Why can’t we cause a real surprise?
“We’re a good team in the league. We have a very good team with very good players, with a great coach as well.”
Despite speculation that his performances could soon attract further transfer interest, Sangare said his focus was firmly on Brentford.
“I just want to work and help the team to reach their goals,” he said. “They put a lot of money in me. They trusted me. It’s up to me to do everything to make it happen – by winning games, by improving the team.”
