Afro Asian Business Chronicle

By Mike Collett

Asamoah Gyan has no regrets about leaving Sunderland and the Premier League and says his arrival in the United Arab Emirates can help boost football in the West Asia. The self-assured 25-year-old Ghana international striker had an acrimonious parting from Sunderland in August when he went out on loan to Al Ain. Black Cats manager Steve Bruce was furious at the time, saying that 48 hours before saying he wanted to leave, Gyan had shaken his hand and told him he was staying at the club. Bruce said ''parasites'' had turned his head over a big money move to the club in Abu Dhabi, but Gyan told Reuters in an interview he was delighted with the way things have turned out and does not know if he will return to the Premier League. 

Sitting in a museum by the River Thames at the launch of new artist-designed kits to be worn at the African Nations Cup in the New Year, Gyan, with a huge star shaved into his hair and a glittering diamond encrusted watch on his wrist told Reuters: ''I'm really enjoying myself. ''Its really working out well for me and I'm really happy for now. 

I have no regrets at all about leaving Sunderland because everyone supported me, my family,  everyone was positive so I moved without any doubt.'' Gyan cost Sunderland a club record fee of 13.2 million pounds ($20.98 million) when they signed him from Rennes in August 2010 after he came to prominence for Ghana during last year's World Cup in South Africa.

Reuters