Ibrahim Diabaté: GAIS admits it wanted a permanent transfer

GAIS would have preferred to complete the sale of Ibrahim Diabaté rather than send him out on multiple loans. Club president Stefan Tilk has revisited the case of the 26-year-old Ivorian striker, who is currently at Erzurumspor with an option to buy.

A sale that failed to materialize

After a successful season with GAIS, Ibrahim Diabaté left Sweden to join Deportivo Alavés on loan with an option to buy. But the Spanish club ultimately did not exercise that option. The Ivorian was then loaned to Erzurumspor in Turkey, with another opportunity for a permanent transfer.

This succession of loans has raised questions among some observers, who would have preferred GAIS to receive a transfer fee in the last transfer window. Stefan Tilk understands the criticism but believes the club had to work with the opportunities available. “We would also have liked to sell him, but ultimately we found a solution that we are satisfied with,” the president told Göteborgs-Posten.

Diabaté’s profile failed to attract enough offers

The club official noted in particular that the striker was already 26 and did not have many concrete offers. In his view, despite the player’s performances, the conditions were not right to complete a permanent sale. The loan to Erzurumspor therefore gives GAIS another opportunity: to see the striker continue his development in Turkey, with an option to buy included in the deal.

The Diabaté case thus illustrates the difficulties GAIS has faced in turning interest in its players into permanent transfers. The club now hopes its strategy will enable it to complete further significant deals.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

Degerfors

GAIS

Allsvenskan Sweden