Former Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has revealed that Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan was the most flamboyant player he ever managed during his time at the club.
Bruce signed Gyan from Rennes in 2010 for a club-record fee of £13 million. The Ghanaian quickly impressed Bruce with his flashy style and on-field talent. “Without question, we had a kid called Asamoah Gyan who we signed at Sunderland,” Bruce said in a TikTok Q&A. “He was the flashiest player I’ve ever managed.”
Despite his impressive start, Gyan’s time at Sunderland was relatively short. He moved to Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates on loan before making the transfer permanent.
In a 2022 interview, Gyan revealed that he had initially wanted to stay at Sunderland. “When the offer came, it was just a loan deal, and they felt they needed that money so they made me go and in the contract, it was stated that when the player decides to stay after the loan deal, they will offer a four-year permanent deal,” he told Kumasi-based radio station Pure FM.
Asamoah Gyan explained that Sunderland believed he would return after the loan but was impressed by his performance at Al-Ain. “However, when I went there I was top scorer and my football improved. So I assessed myself, something that will make me happy, and I fell in love with the place so I decided to sign the extension.”
Despite his desire to stay, Gyan ultimately left Sunderland. He expressed disappointment in the club’s decision, stating, “They didn’t care about the fans and if they turned a blind eye to all that I did and wanted to let me leave, why not.”
During his time at Sunderland, Gyan made 34 appearances, scoring 11 goals and providing 4 assists. He later played for various clubs, including Shanghai SIPG, Al-Ahli Dubai, Kayserispor, NorthEast United, and Legon Cities.Asamoah Gyan retired from professional football in June 2023.
