The Malian Alio Dieng, Valencia's new Spanish player, revealed that his move to the Spanish league came after years of competing at the highest levels wearing the Al Ahly shirt, stressing that the Red Club was one of the most important reasons for the level shown by the Egyptian national team in the World Cup.
Alio Dieng
Club: Valencia
Alio Dieng moved to Spanish Valencia in a free transfer deal after his contract with Al Ahly ended.
Dieng told the Spanish newspaper Super Deporte: "I came to Valencia carrying with me the experience of competing at the highest levels, not as some believe that I am coming from a less powerful league".
He continued, "What the Egyptian national team presented at the World Cup is the best evidence of the quality of the players who emerge from Al Ahly, and I played alongside a group of the best Egyptian national team players, and I know very well what it means to compete at the highest level".
He added, "Al Ahly is a club accustomed to competing under great pressure, and it is one of the main reasons behind the level shown by the Egyptian national team at the World Cup".
He revealed, "I am used to playing big matches, finals, derbies, and continental confrontations, where accepting defeat is not an option, and Al Ahly is not just a big club in Africa, but a club that produces players capable of shining in the biggest forums".
He concluded, "When I arrived at Valencia, the first thing I talked about was the Champions League, because I always aspire to compete at the highest levels".
Alio Dieng played 250 matches with Al Ahly, scoring 8 goals and providing 11 assists.
