A single word has thrown Moussa Diaby's Al-Ittihad future into question this summer. The France winger sparked the storm with one short message.
Press reports had already claimed Diaby was closing in on an exit from Al-Ittihad, with a return to his former club, Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, on the cards this summer.
Then came the message. Diaby fired the speculation into life by writing to Burkina Faso's Edmond Tapsoba, the Bayer Leverkusen defender, through his "Instagram" account.
Tapsoba had posted an emotional note about his pride at wearing the German side's captain's armband, ahead of their first competitive game of the season, against Wehen Wiesbaden, tomorrow Saturday, in the first round of the German Cup.
Diaby replied to the Burkinabé's post with just one word: "Captain". Bayer Leverkusen's own account then jumped in with an eyes emoji, teasing what might be to come.
The pair know each other well. Diaby lined up alongside Tapsoba at the German club for 3 years between 2020 and 2023, before leaving for Aston Villa and then joining Al-Ittihad in 2024.
He has dazzled in Saudi Arabia since. Diaby fired the side to the domestic double two seasons ago, though his levels dipped last term.
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