2 days ago
Ayari's blunt words as Swedish interview pursues transfer theme
Yasin Ayari signed off at home in style against Liverpool (Image: Simon Dack)
Yasin Ayari has told Swedish fans he is at 'a fantastic club' – especially for young players.
But the Albion midfielder appears to have been on the receiving end of a specific line of questioning as he spoke while on international duty.
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And it is one which is not uncommon at this time of year.
Basically, when are you going to get a move to a more famous club?
Ayari scored for Sweden as they won 2-0 over Hungary in Budapest.
During the international camp, he was interviewed by Fotbollskanalen.
And the TV company's own report of the chat highlighted one subject – will he leave Albion?
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Asked about his season, Ayari said: 'Good. As I always said, Brighton is a fantastic club. I really enjoy it there. It's been going well.'
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And then came the persistent questions about a move.
He replied: 'Right now I feel happy where I am. But you never know in the future.
'I always want to play in the best clubs and fight for the biggest trophies. We'll see what happens.'
Asked whether there was 'interest' – that ambiguous, multi-purpose word which you see a lot in transfer windows – in him, Ayari answered: 'I don't know anything right now. My focus is where I am right now.'
Asked about that lack of knowledge, he said: 'I don't like that. Let the agents handle that. I focus on mine.'
Ayari continues goalscoring run with impressive finish for Sweden
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It seems he was then asked his gut feeling about his future and said: 'Gut feeling doesn't tell me anything.'
And then, regarding his future and what he wants to happen in the summer transfer window, he said: 'You always want to challenge yourself. But I'm safe where I am now and then we'll see what happens.'
Then came an enquiry as to what his agent had told him, to which Ayari replied: 'As I said, I am safe where I am.
'I have done well. I feel good in the position I am in. But you never know what will happen.'
Ayari emerged as one of the success stories of the season under Fabian Hurzeler.
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He appeared to take some time to win many fans over but Hurzeler's consistent trust in him spoke volumes.
The process of convincing more of the support might have been helped had he taken one of the occasional goalscoring chances which came his way.
A late equaliser at Crystal Palace, for example, when he failed to get full contact on an effort which Dean Henderson blocked, would have worked wonders.
Ayari delighted fans with his stunning goal against West Ham but the follow-up was disappointing when he came off the bench against Newcastle.
In terms of home game, though his part in the win over Liverpool was a great way to sign off.
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Ayari's name boomed out from the stands as he was substituted towards the end of that epic.
Now, speaking in Sweden, he said: 'It's a fantastic club, especially for us young people who come there, who may be taking their first step abroad.
'They are very good at taking care of us and making us feel safe.
'You can go out and do what you are good at.'
