When Granit Xhaka was first linked with a move to Sunderland in the summer, even the most optimistic among us thought it was too good to be true. As links become more detailed, one of the most ambitious signings in our recent history draws ever closer.
We got our first look at the Swiss captain in a Sunderland shirt after the deal was completed, and we found out more about the lengths the club went to to sign him. Kirill Louis-Dreyfus flew to Leverkusen to sell him our plans and it is believed that a big part of it was that we had plans to look upwards and not just fight to stay up.
We’re halfway through the season, and so far, this bold strategy is working. We’ve been in the top half all season and are in the FA Cup fourth round for just the second time in ten years, and Xhaka is a big part of it all.
Apart from an early yellow card that cost Manchester City an early exit, he has played every minute of every league and cup game this season, despite fans from other clubs telling him his leg was broken, which they didn’t.
At 33, Xhaka is aging like fine wine, but our captain brings more than just a powerhouse on the pitch to the club, albeit with one goal and five assists in 21 games.
Xhaka is at his best when the likes of Sadiqi and Le Fay are running ahead of him, and there were concerns our midfield would struggle when Sadiqi leaves during the Africa Cup of Nations. With a guy like Xhaka around you, no matter who is around him or who is absent, you will be fine.
Ironically, Xhaka has shown why we signed him on two occasions against Everton this season. After he scored Sunderland’s first goal in the league, he came out and said how bad the last training session was and how it wasn’t good enough, and he used that to explain our poor performance in the first half.
Xhaka was furious at Everton’s penalty decision late in Saturday’s cup tie but was on cloud nine when the game was won. These are examples of a man who is passionate about the club and has had such a significant impact.
I’m still not used to seeing Xhaka in a Sunderland shirt, let alone the captain’s armband, and I can’t help but smile every time I see him in his red and white stripes.
Xhaka is one of the best players many of us have ever seen at Sunderland, if not the best, but his winning mentality and charisma make him even more valuable to us. Much of our momentum this season has been down to the signing of Xhaka. I have no doubt about it and we can already look back and say he was arguably our most important signing ever.
It’s easy to get too hyped about Granit Xhaka, and although we had high hopes for him when we signed him in the summer, I don’t think anyone could have foreseen just how important a player he would become, or how quickly the club would sour on him.