Mamadou Sangare: Why I Snubbed Champions League for Brentford

Mamadou Sangare turned down Champions League football to join Brentford – and he explains why

Mamadou Sangare rejected offers from major European clubs, including Champions League sides, to sign for Brentford this summer. The Mali midfielder, 24, was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year after helping Lens finish runners-up and win the French Cup, but chose Brentford for his development.

Player: Mamadou Sangare, 24, Mali international midfielder
Club: Brentford
Previous club: RC Lens (Ligue 1 runners-up and French Cup winners last season)
Key reason: Brentford's detailed presentation and a coach who wanted him
Premier League debut: Two assists in win over Tottenham
Current status: Unbeaten in Premier League this season; sit fourth after six games
Next fixture: Liverpool at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday

What was said

"Yeah it's true. But I'm not going to give any names, out of respect. There were a lot of clubs. For me, the most important thing was to know where I could progress. And Brentford was the best place for my development. A coach who really wanted me was something that was important to me. That's why I chose Brentford."
— Mamadou Sangare on rejecting bigger clubs

"No, it wasn't difficult. Just because a big club comes calling, it doesn't mean you have to say yes to it. 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. I think that choosing Brentford was the best option for me to progress and to reach my best potential."
— Sangare on saying no to major European clubs

"It was incredible. It was the first time I've ever seen something like that. I've been at a few clubs, but I've never seen an approach like that. Brentford has a well-placed structure. It was something I've never seen before – it really pushed me to choose this club. I had a positive, detailed discussion with the coach. He showed me his style of play and what he expected from me. He also showed me the tools which could allow me to improve. 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 on Brentford's presentation

"I haven't spoken much about that with the coach. He's the coach, he's the boss. I'm a player like so many others. It's not only about me here. The most important thing is the team. That's what counts. 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. It's up to me to keep working and to do even more than the others. We'll see how it goes."
— Sangare on his recent appearances on the bench

"The goal is to reach Europe and win as many games as possible. We know that Brentford has never played a European game before. Why can't we also reach the top four, or the top two? Why can't we cause a real surprise? Because we're a good team in the league. We have a very good team with very good players, with a great coach as well."
— Sangare on Brentford's ambitions

"I saw some comments about that. I don't think too much about it. I just want to work and help the team to reach their goals. 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. These are the things I have to put in my head, not transfers or anything like that. I have to focus on the team. This is what we have to do. Win games and improve the team by getting our goals."
— Sangare on transfer rumours

Sangare's words reveal a player who values substance over status. He was not swayed by the glamour of Champions League football but by a clear plan for his development. Brentford's approach, which included a detailed presentation and a conversation with the coach about his strengths and weaknesses, convinced him he could grow at the Gtech Community Stadium.

His attitude towards being benched in recent games is also telling. Rather than sulking, he insists the team comes first and that he will work harder to reclaim his spot. That professionalism will endear him to Brentford fans and his coach.

The numbers

24 – Sangare's age when named in Ligue 1 Team of the Year
2 – assists on his Premier League debut vs Tottenham
28 – times Brentford watched Bryan Mbeumo for Troyes before signing him
£71m – fee Manchester United paid for Mbeumo
20 – Premier League goals Mbeumo scored in a single season for Brentford
Most tackles per 90 – Sangare leads the Premier League in tackles per 90 minutes
Only Elliot Anderson – Manchester City's Elliot Anderson has won more duels on the ground than Sangare
6 – games played by Brentford this season; they are unbeaten and sit fourth
£200m – approximate total received by Brentford for Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Ivan Toney and David Raya

Why Sangare chose Brentford over Champions League football

Mamadou Sangare could have been lining up in Europe's elite competition this week. Instead, he is at Brentford, a club that has never played a European match. The midfielder, who starred for Lens last season, was courted by "major European clubs" and "the elite of the elite," according to Sky Sports. But he turned them down, citing Brentford's detailed presentation and the coach's desire to sign him as decisive factors.

The presentation, which Sangare describes as "incredible" and unlike anything he had seen before, outlined his strengths and weaknesses and showed him exactly how he would fit into the team's style of play. It is a method Brentford have used before, most notably with Bryan Mbeumo, whom they watched 28 times before signing him from Troyes in 2019. Mbeumo was later sold to Manchester United for £71m after scoring 20 Premier League goals in a season. That track record of developing talent and securing big fees is clearly part of the appeal.

Sangare's start at Brentford could hardly have been better. He provided two assists in a win over Tottenham on the opening weekend, prompting Jamie Redknapp to say he "can play for a top four club." However, he has started the last two games – against Chelsea and Aston Villa – on the bench, with Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen preferred in midfield. Yehor Yarmoliuk is another option and scored at Villa. Despite limited minutes, Sangare averages the most tackles per 90 minutes of any Premier League player, and only Manchester City's Elliot Anderson has won more duels on the ground.

His statistics underline his value. Brentford are unbeaten in the Premier League this season, having beaten Chelsea and Tottenham and drawn with Aston Villa. They sit fourth after six games, and Sangare sees no reason why they cannot aim higher. "Why can't we also reach the top four, or the top two?" he asks. It is a bold ambition for a club that has never won a major trophy, but with players of Sangare's quality and the coaching that convinced him to join, Brentford are dreaming big.

Talking points

Should Sangare be starting ahead of Janelt and Jensen? His tackle numbers suggest he deserves more minutes, but the manager clearly values experience.
Is Brentford's presentation approach the future of transfers? It convinced Sangare and Mbeumo, and could be a model for other clubs.
Can Brentford really finish in the top two? Sangare's ambition is admirable, but the squad depth may be tested as the season progresses.
Will Sangare be the next big sale? With his stats and potential, big clubs may return, and Brentford's record of selling for huge fees suggests they would listen.

What happens next

Brentford face Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Sangare will hope to earn a recall to the starting line-up and help his team maintain their unbeaten start. With Liverpool smarting from a defeat to Brentford in this fixture last season, the game promises to be a stern test of Brentford's top-four credentials. Sangare's performance, whether from the start or off the bench, could be crucial.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Mamadou Sangare reject other clubs for Brentford?

He chose Brentford because he believed it was the best place for his development, and the coach made it clear he wanted him. The detailed presentation also convinced him.